Live NHL Recap

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Goaltending match-up: Semyon Varlamov (20/22, .909 SV%) vs. Niklas Backstrom (28/32, .875 SV%)

Combos: Matt Duchene - Paul Stastny - Daniel Winnik/ Gabriel Landeskog - Ryan O'Reilly - Milan Hejduk/ Brad Malone - Jay McClement - T.J. Galiardi/ Cody McLeod - Chris Porter - David Van Der Gulik/ Erik Johnson - Shane O'Brien/ Stefan Elliott - Matt Hunwick/ Jan Hejda - Ryan O'Byrne

Scratches: Yip, Quincey

Top PP times: Elliott (9:28), O'Reilly (8:50), Duchene (8:47), Hejduk (8:36), Stastny (8:22)

Trending: Matt Duchene (1A, 5 SOG) had just five points on the month coming in. Ryan O’Reilly (1G, 1A, 4 SOG) has been a little cool of late, but came into tonight with 24 points overall. Gabriel Landeskog (1G, 2 PIM, 4:33 PP, 1 SOG) has points in four of his past five now. David Van Der Gulik (2A, +2, 0:12 PP, 1 SOG) had a point in his four starts coming in.

Combos: Dany Heatley - Mikko Koivu - Cal Clutterbuck/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Matt Cullen - Jarod Palmer/ Darroll Powe - Kyle Brodziak - Nick Johnson/ Colton Gillies - Warren Peters - Brad Staubitz/ Marco Scandella - Jared Spurgeon/ Nick Schultz - Marek Zidlicky/ Justin Falk - Mike Lundin

Scratches: Stoner, Zanon

Top PP times: Zidlicky (8:44), Heatley (8:02), Koivu (7:39), PMB (7:33), Brodziak (7:31)

Trending: Mikko Koivu (1A, +1, 3 SOG) was badly needed back in the line-up and he was able to play tonight. And he played a lot. 23:32, to be precise. Dany Heatley (2A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has points in 10 of his last 13 outings, while Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1G, -2, 3 SOG) had 3-4-7 in 9 GP this month headed in. Kyle Brodziak (1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had one point in six tries coming in. Cal Clutterbuck (1G, 5:11 PP, 2 SOG) had been blanked in three straight headed into the break.

Goaltending match-up: Michal Neuvirth (3/6, .500 SV%) & Tomas Vokoun (16/17, .941 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (20/22, .909 SV%)

Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Brooks Laich - Troy Brouwer/ Marcus Johansson - Nicklas Backstrom - Alexander Semin/ Jason Chimera - Jeff Halpern - Joel Ward/ Matt Hendricks - Mathieu Perreault - Mike Knuble/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Roman Hamrlik - Dennis Wideman/ John Erskine - Dmitry Orlov

Scratches: Green, Schultz

Top PP times: Ovechkin (6:13), Backstrom, Johansson (5:04), Wideman (4:43), Brouwer (4:13)

Trending: Alex Ovechkin (1G, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) has scored in three of five with points in four of five. Nicklas Backstrom (1A, -1, 3 SOG) continues to get the job done nightly and Dennis Wideman (1A, no SOG) came into tonight a multi-pointer shy of being on a point-per-game pace for December.

Combos: Thomas Vanek - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville/ Brad Boyes - Derek Roy - Drew Stafford/ Cody McCormick - Paul Gaustad - Patrick Kaleta/ Matt Ellis - Luke Adam - Zack Kassian/ Christian Ehrhoff - Brayden McNabb/ Robyn Regehr - Andrej Sekera/ Mike Weber - Jordan Leopold

Scratches: Gragnani, Szczechura, Ennis

Top PP times: Ehrhoff (6:03), Vanek (5:29), Leopold (5:10), Pominville (5:07), Roy (3:39)

Trending: Jochen Hecht (1A, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) was back in the line-up tonight and he had productive wingers Thomas Vanek (1A, +1, 1 SOG) and Jason Pominville (1G, 2 SOG) flanking him again. Brad Boyes (1A, 3:00 PP, 1 SOG) also returned to action here. Derek Roy (1A, 1 SOG) has points in seven of 10, while Brayden McNabb (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 3:04 PP, 3 SOG) picked up his first NHL goal. Christian Ehrhoff (1G, 2 SOG) has a point in three of five. He hadn't scored in awhile either.

Goaltending match-up: Evgeni Nabokov (28/30, .933 SV%) vs. Henrik Lundqvist (28/28). This was the third shutout of the season for Lundqvist and 38th of his career. He had 11 last year.

Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - Kyle Okposo/ Matt Martin- Josh Bailey - Tim Wallace/ Michael Haley - Marty Reasoner - Nino Niederreiter/ Mark Streit - Milan Jurcina/ Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic/ Mark Eaton - Mike Mottau

Scratches: Staios, Ullstrom, Montoya

Top PP times: Jurcina (3:17), Moulson (3:16), Streit (3:13), Tavares (2:56), Parenteau (2:36)

Trending:

Combos: Carl Hagelin - Brad Richards - Ryan Callahan/ Artem Anisimov - Derek Stepan - Marian Gaborik/ Brandon Dubinsky - Brian Boyle - John Mitchell/ Mike Rupp - Ruslan Fedotenko - Brandon Prust/ Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi/ Michael Del Zotto - Anton Stralman/ Tim Erixon - Stu Bickel

Scratches: Woywitka, Avery, Christensen

Top PP times: Del Zotto (3:58), Girardi (3:49), Anisimov (2:38), Gaborik, Stepan (2:33)

Trending: Ryan Callahan (2A, +2, 4 PIM, 2:12 PP, 3 SOG) had 4-4-8 in 12 GP coming into tonight, while Michael Del Zotto (2A, +3, 3 SOG) had 11 points from the back end in that same span. You can’t stop Marian Gaborik (1G, +1, 3 SOG), especially with no goalie between the pipes.

Goaltending match-up: Johan Hedberg (30/33, .909 SV%) vs. Cam Ward (23/25, .920 SV%)

Combos: Zach Parise - Adam Henrique - Ilya Kovalchuk/ Petr Sykora - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ Mattias Tedenby - Travis Zajac - David Clarkson/ Tim Sestito - Ryan Carter - Cam Janssen/ Bryce Salvador - Mark Fayne/ Anton Volchenkov - Kurtis Foster/ Alex Urbom - Matt Taormina

Scratches: Tallinder, Boulton

Top PP times: Kovalchuk (2:00), Foster (1:19), Parise, Clarkson, Elias (1:12)

Trending: David Clarkson (1G, 1A, 3 SOG) has scored in three of five and Kurtis Foster (1A, -1, 3 SOG) had chipped in three points in his five starts with Jersey coming in here. When I flipped over to this game, Travis Zajac (no PP, 1 SOG) had replaced Adam Henrique (1G, 0:48 PP, 4 SOG) on the big line. FYI. Not sure if it stuck, but it’s only a matter of time until that’s the way things go anyway.

Combos: Drayson Bowman - Eric Staal - Chad LaRose/ Alexei Ponikarovsky - Jussi Jokinen - Tuomo Ruutu/ Jiri Tlusty - Brandon Sutter - Patrick Dwyer/ Andreas Nodl - Tim Brent - Anthony Stewart/ Bryan Allen - Jaroslav Spacek/ Jay Harrison - Justin Faulk/ Tim Gleason - Jamie McBain

Scratches: Pitkanen, Joslin

Top PP times: Staal (4:48), Faulk (4:43), Spacek (4:01), Jokinen (3:54), Larose (3:41)

Trending: Cam Ward was credited with the ENG after Kovalchuk dished it into his own net. Goalie goals count for 100 in your league? Tuomo Ruutu (1G, 2 PIM, 3:02 PP, 3 SOG) has goals in four of five with points in five straight. Brandon Sutter (2G, +2, 0:23 PP, 2 SOG) already had a pair of SHG to his name this season. Tim Gleason (1A, +1, 0:32 PP, 2 SOG) has a point in four of his past eight from the blueline. Tim Brent (2A, +1, no PP, no SOG) was back in action this evening and he had three points in six games before this outing.

Goaltending match-up: Richard Bachman (22/25, .880 SV%) & Andrew Raycroft (11/12, .917 SV%) vs. Jaroslav Halak (20/23, .870 SV%)

Combos: Loui Eriksson - Jamie Benn - Michael Ryder/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Steve Ott/ Eric Nystrom - Vernon Fiddler - Radek Dvorak/ Toby Petersen - Tom Wandell - Adam Burish/ Nicklas Grossman - Trevor Daley/ Alex Goligoski - Philip Larsen/ Mark Fistric - Adam Pardy

Scratches: Robidas, Souray, Dowell

Top PP times: Daley (2:52), Goligoski (2:43), Morrow, Ribeiro (2:36), Ott (2:27)

Trending: Mike Ribeiro (1G, -1, 1 SOG) had collected 3-8-11 in his 10 December games coming in, while Steve Ott (1A, +1, 5 PIM, no SOG) had seven points and 29 PIM for his standard league owners in that same span. Alex Goligoski (1A, +2, 1 SOG) has points in two of four now after a slow start back from injury. Michael Ryder (1G, 1:24 PP, 3 SOG) extended his goal streak to five games and his point streak to six. Jamie Benn has a point in each of his past six now.

Combos: Alex Steen - David Backes - Chris Stewart/ Evgeny Grachev - Patrik Berglund - David Perron/ Chris Porter - Jason Arnott - Matt D'Agostini/ Adam Cracknell - Scott Nichol - Ryan Reaves/ Barret Jackman - Kevin Shattenkirk/ Carlo Colaiacovo - Alex Pietrangelo/ Kris Russell - Roman Polak

Scratches: Langenbrunner, Oshie, Cole

Top PP times: Steen, Berglund, Shattenkirk, D'Agostini, Arnott (1:33)

Trending: Don’t look now, but Chris Stewart (2G, -1, 0:22 PP, 7 SOG) is starting to gain some steam. David Perron (2A, +1, 0:22 PP, 2 SOG) has been a consistent threat since beginning his ’11-12 season late. David Backes (1A, -1, 0:22 PP, 3 SOG) had four points in four contests coming in and Carlo Colaiacovo (1A, +1, 0:22 PP, 2 SOG) has helpers in five of his past eight now. Patrik Berglund (2A, 2 SOG) has points in four of six. Jason Arnott (1G, 2 SOG) has scored in four of six and has been having a solid month. Kevin Shattenkirk (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had three December points before tonight.

Goaltending match-up: Jimmy Howard (31/32, .969 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (18/22, .818 SV%)

Combos: Johan Franzen - Pavel Datsyuk - Todd Bertuzzi/ Valtteri Filppula - Henrik Zetterberg - Drew Miller/ Danny Cleary - Darren Helm - Jiri Hudler/ Cory Emmerton - Justin Abdelkader - Tomas Holmstrom/ Nicklas Lidstrom - Ian White/ Niklas Kronwall - Brad Stuart/ Mike Commodore - Jonathan Ericsson

Scratches: Kindl

Top PP times: Zetterberg, Filppula (2:32), Kronwall (1:49), White, Lidstrom (1:44)

Trending: Pavel Datsyuk (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1:25 PP, 2 SOG). Yeah, he’s alright. Henrik Zetterberg (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) had 10 points in 11 affairs coming into this clash, while Valtteri Filppula (2G, +2, 2 SOG) had just one point in six tries. Todd Bertuzzi (1A, +1, 2:13 PP, 1 SOG) has been a nifty play in the last month and Johan Franzen (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 1:25 PP, no SOG) has been a bit dry lately, but has been excellent on the whole this season.

Combos: Martin Erat - David Legwand - Craig Smith/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Mike Fisher - Patric Hornqvist/ Colin Wilson - Nick Spaling - Jordin Tootoo/ Blake Geoffrion - Jerred Smithson - Matt Halischuk/ Roman Josi - Ryan Suter/ Francis Bouillon - Jonathon Blum/ Jack Hillen - Ryan Ellis

Scratches: Weber, Klein, McGrattan

Top PP times: Suter (7:24), Wilson, Ellis, Legwand (5:31), Smith (5:22)

Trending: Jonathan Blum (1G, -1, 0:06 PP, 3 SOG) ended the shutout bid at the 17:48 mark. Jordin Tootoo (1A, no PP, 2 SOG) added his seventh point in his 10th game of the month.

Goaltending match-up: Steve Mason (18/22, .818 SV%) vs. Corey Crawford (37/38, .974 SV%)

Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Antoine Vermette/ Vinny Prospal - Jeff Carter - Derek Dorsett/ Ryan Johansen - Samuel Pahlsson - R.J. Umberger/ Derek MacKenzie - Mark Letestu - Jared Boll/ Fedor Tyutin - Nikita Nikitin/ John Moore - James Wisniewski/ Marc Methot - Aaron Johnson

Scratches: Clitsome, Huselius, Byers

Top PP times: Brassard (2:30), Umberger (2:28), Johansen, Wisniewski (2:13), Nikitin (2:06)

Trending: James Wisniewski (1G, +1, 2 SOG) had been shutout in his past four.

Combos: Andrew Brunette - Jonathan Toews - Patrick Kane/ Patrick Sharp - Brandon Pirri - Marian Hossa/ Bryan Bickell - Dave Bolland - Viktor Stalberg/ Marcus Kruger - Jamal Mayers - Michael Frolik/ Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook/ Nick Leddy - Niklas Hjalmarsson/ Steve Montador - Sean O'Donnell

Scratches: Lepisto, Scott

Top PP times: Hossa (3:20), Brunette (3:17), Keith (3:14), Montador (3:00), Bolland (2:54)

Trending: Patrick Sharp (1G, +1, 2:48 PP, 3 SOG) had 7-6-13 in his 10 December tilts coming in, while Marian Hossa (1G, 1A, +1, 1 SOG) had 14. Brent Seabrook (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 0:46 PP, 1 SOG) has points in B2B affairs for the first time since Nov. 10 & 11. Viktor Stalberg (2G, +2, no PP, 3 SOG) has goals in three straight with multi-pointers in each of those starts. He has points in his past four overall now. Duncan Keith (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had two points in seven clashes headed in here. Dave Bolland (2A, +2, 1 SOG) has a point in three of five.

Goaltending match-up: Nikolai Khabibulin (21/26, .808 SV%) vs. Roberto Luongo (18/21, .857 SV%)

Combos: Taylor Hall - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle/ Ryan Smyth - Shawn Horcoff - Sam Gagner/ Ryan Jones - Eric Belanger - Ben Eager/ Darcy Hordichuk - Anton Lander - Lennart Petrell/ Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert/ Jeff Petry - Corey Potter/ Theo Peckham - Alex Plante

Scratches: Whitney, Hemsky, Sutton

Top PP times: RNH (8:07), Hall (7:20), Eberle (6:41), Horcoff (6:03), Smyth (4:44)

Trending: Jordan Eberle (1G, 1A, 3 SOG) had 1G, 1A the last time these teams met. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1A, -1, no SOG) came into tonight having already racked up four points in two games against Vancouver. Ryan Smyth (1G, -2, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) has goals in B2B games after a long dry spell. Sam Gagner (1A, -1, 3:18 PP, no SOG) had one point in five games before tonight. Ryan Jones (1A, -1, 3:10 PP, no SOG) has goals in three of four. Corey Potter (1G, 1A, -1, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games now.

Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Chris Higgins/ Andrew Ebbett - Cody Hodgson - Jannik Hansen/ Manny Malhotra - Maxim Lapierre – Dale Weise/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Alexander Edler - Sami Salo/ Andrew Alberts – Keith Ballard

Scratches: Sulzer

Top PP times: H. Sedin (4:14), Bieksa (4:07), Higgins, Raymond (4:03), Edler (3:53)

Trending: Henrik Sedin (1A, +1, 2 PIM, no SOG) had 16 December points in 10 GP before this effort, while Daniel Sedin (1G, +1, 3:46 PP, 4 SOG) had 6-6-12. Alexandre Burrows (1G, 1A, +3, 0:02 PP, 1 SOG) has goals in five of six now and this was his first SHG of the season. Cody Hodgson (1A, +1, 3:34 PP, 1 SOG) has a four-game point streak rolling, while Chris Higgins (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has been averaging a point-per-game this month. Jannik Hansen (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 0:02 PP, no SOG) had 10 points in 11 GP coming into this start. Ryan Kesler (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) began the night with 3-7-10 in his past 11 outings. Alexander Edler (1A, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) has points in four of five.

Goaltending match-up: Jason LaBarbera (25/29, .862 SV%) & Curtis McElhinney (6/6) vs. Jonathan Quick (26/29, .897 SV%)

Combos: Mikkel Boedker - Daymond Langkow - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney - Lauri Korpikoski - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Kyle Chipchura - Paul Bissonnette/ Raffi Torres - Cal O'Reilly - Patrick O'Sullivan/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ David Schlemko - Rostislav Klesla/ Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Michal Rozsival

Scratches: Rundblad, Hanzal, Gordon

Top PP times: Yandle, Ekman-Larsson (3:09), O'Sullivan (2:15), Korpikoski (2:12), Doan (1:48)

Trending: Raffi Torres (2G, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after a long stretch of zeroes. Daymond Langkow (1G, -2, 1:09 PP, 3 SOG) only had a couple of points this month before tonight. Oliver Ekman-Larsson (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had four points in five games headed in here.

Combos: Brad Richardson - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown/ Simon Gagne - Mike Richards - Trevor Lewis/ Dustin Penner - Jarret Stoll - Justin Williams/ Kyle Clifford - Colin Fraser - Kevin Westgarth/ Drew Doughty - Rob Scuderi/ Willie Mitchell - Slava Voynov/ Jack Johnson - Matt Greene

Scratches: Martinez, Drewiske, Hunter, Loktionov

Top PP times: Brown, Doughty (3:28), Johnson (3:15), Voynov (2:45), Penner, Stoll (2:40)

Trending: Anze Kopitar (2A, +3, 3 SOG) has points in eight of his past 10 contests. Drew Doughty (1A, 2 SOG) had five points in five tilts coming in. Justin Williams (1A, -2, 2:32 PP, 2 SOG) had chipped in three points in four games before this one, while Dustin Penner (1A, -2, 3 SOG) had five points on the month. Jack Johnson (1A, +1, 1 SOG) ended a seven-game pointless skid here. Check on the status of Simon Gagne if he's on your roster. Could be a head injury.

Goaltending match-up: Jonas Hiller (36/38, .947 SV%) vs. Antti Niemi (20/23, .870 SV%)

Combos: Niklas Hagman - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry/ Bobby Ryan - Nick Bonino - Teemu Selanne/ Matt Beleskey - Andrew Cogliano - Kyle Palmieri/ Jean-Francois Jacques - Rod Pelley - George Parros/ Francois Beauchemin - Cam Fowler/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Sheldon Brookbank

Scratches: Fraser, Palmieri

Top PP times: Visnovsky (3:22), Fowler (3:13), Selanne, Perry, Getzlaf (2:26)

Trending: Bobby Ryan (1G, 1:34 PP, 2 SOG) had a lone helper in six games before scoring on a breakaway tonight.

Combos: Benn Ferriero - Joe Thornton - Joe Pavelski/ Patrick Marleau - Logan Couture - Ryane Clowe/ Jamie McGinn - Michal Handzus - Torrey Mitchell/ Brad Winchester - Andrew Desjardins - Frazer McLaren/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Dan Boyle/ Brent Burns - Jason Demers/ Justin Braun - Colin White

Scratches: Murray, Niittymaki

Top PP times: Boyle (2:12), Marleau, Thornton (1:51), Pavelski (1:38), Clowe, Couture (1:27)

Trending: Joe Pavelski (1G, 3 SOG) has scored in three of five and had five points in five games headed into this evening. Joe Thornton (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had five in five before tonight too.

­Chris Nichols is Sportsnet.ca's fantasy hockey writer.