Chris Nichols

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

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Carolina Hurricanes 3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Manny Legace (8/8) & Justin Peters (15/17, .882 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (26/29, .897 SV%)
Net notes: Legace was 4-0-0 vs. PIT coming in with 1.80/ .937 splits. He left this game with an injury. MAF was 3-4-1-1 vs. CAR with 2.61/ .916 splits and one shutout.

Ray Whitney Eric Staal Jussi Jokinen
Tuomo Ruutu Brandon Sutter Erik Cole
Zach Boychuk Pat Dwyer Chad LaRose
Sergei Samsonov Rod Brind'Amour Tom Kostopoulos

Joni Pitkanen Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison Brett Carson
Bryan Rodney Brian Pothier

Chris Kunitz Sidney Crosby Pascal Dupuis
Alexei Ponikarovsky Evgeni Malkin Ruslan Fedotenko
Matt Cooke Jordan Staal Bill Guerin
Michael Rupp Craig Adams Tyler Kennedy

Brooks Orpik Kris Letang
Mark Eaton Sergei Gonchar
Alex Goligoski Jordan Leopold

Key notes: Ray Whitney (1A, even, 21:37 TOI, 5:25 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had two points the last time these teams met and he had three points in four games coming in after four without one. Eric Staal (1A, even, 22:59 TOI, 5:14 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 7-13 FO for 35%) had 24 points in 22 GP vs. PIT before today and had 28 points in 29 road games headed in here. He had six points in nine outings headed in here. Zach Boychuk (1G, +1, 13:53 TOI, 2:07 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has goals in two of four and had six points in 10 GP before today.

Joni Pitkanen (1G, 1A, +1, 34:30 TOI, 6:24 PP, 2:19 PK, 1 SOG) had 12 points in 16 GP from the back end coming into this matinee, while fellow defenceman Jamie McBain (1G, 1A, +1, 29:50 TOI, 5:01 PP, 1:25 PK, 4 SOG) has points in each of his three games on this call-up to begin his NHL career. He has 40 points in 68 GP with Albany. His point shot was instrumental on the OT GWG too (it may or may not have been tipped as I write this), so not a bad start for this kid.

Top PP times (CAR): Pitkanen (6:24), Jokinen (5:31), Whitney (5:25), Staal (5:14) and McBain (5:01)
Top PP times (PIT): Crosby (2:57), Gonchar (2:52), Ponikarovsky (2:07), Letang (2:01) and Malkin (2:00)

Evgeni Malkin (1G, even, 18:06 TOI, 2:00 PP, 0:27 PK, 7 SOG, 4-3 FO for 57%) returned to action today after missing time with a foot injury. Sidney Crosby (1A, -2, 22:30 TOI, 2:57 PP, 1:01 PK, 1 SOG, 12-9 FO for 57%) had been blanked in his past two games, which was only the second such stretch since that five-game pointless skid in early November. Alexei Ponikarovsky (2A, even, 13:15 TOI, 2:07 PP, no PK, no SOG) had four points in seven games with the Pens coming into this tilt.

Jordan Staal (1G, even, 2 PIM, 19:14 TOI, 1:24 PP, 3:57 PK, 4 SOG, 11-9 FO for 55%) began the afternoon just three points shy of last year's career-best of 49 points. Ruslan Fedotenko (1A, -1, 14:36 TOI, 0:27 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has points in three straight after five without one.

Ottawa Senators 4 @ Dallas Stars 5
Goaltending match-up: Pascal Leclaire (14/19, .737 SV%) & Brian Elliott (6/6) vs. Kari Lehtonen (25/29, .862 SV%)
Net notes: Leclaire was 2-1-2 vs. DAL coming in with 3.26/ .887 splits. Lehtonen was 5-5-0 vs. OTT with 2.79/ .913 splits.

Peter Regin Jason Spezza Daniel Alfredsson
Nick Foligno Mike Fisher Alex Kovalev
Jarkko Ruutu Chris Kelly Chris Neil
Ryan Shannon Matt Cullen Jesse Winchester

Chris Phillips Anton Volchenkov
Andy Sutton Erik Karlsson
Chris Campoli Matt Carkner

Steve Ott Brad Richards Loui Eriksson
James Neal Jamie Benn Jere Lehtinen
Brenden Morrow Mike Ribeiro Brandon Segal
Krys Barch Brian Sutherby Toby Petersen

Nicklas Grossman Stephane Robidas
Jeff Woywitka Trevor Daley
Karlis Skrastins Mark Fistric

Key notes: Jason Spezza (3G, 1A, +1, 18:39 TOI, 5:11 PP, 0:20 PK, 5 SOG, 5-7 FO for 42%) had 16 points in 24 road games headed in here and he had six points in eight games since the break coming in too. This was his third career hat trick. Daniel Alfredsson (2A, +2, 19:47 TOI, 5:11 PP, 2:19 PK, 2 SOG) has been averaging a point-per-game away from Ottawa this year and he has points in seven of his past nine overall.

Mike Fisher (1G, 1A, even, 20:17 TOI, 4:24 PP, 1:55 PK, 3 SOG, 7-5 FO for 58%) has points in four of nine. This was Nick Foligno's (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 15:02 TOI, 1:35 PP, no PK, no SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) third game back and first time in the scoring summary. Matt Cullen (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 16:38 TOI, 3:59 PP, 1:18 PK, 2 SOG, 5-5 FO for 50%) has a point in four of eight now.

Top PP times (OTT): Alfredsson (5:11), Spezza (5:11), Fisher (4:24), Cullen (3:59) and Karlsson (3:34)
Top PP times (DAL): Richards (5:38), Robidas (4:20), Morrow (4:05), Ribeiro (4:05) and Eriksson (3:53)

Brad Richards (2G, even, 21:58 TOI, 5:38 PP, 0:31 PK, 5 SOG, 7-5 FO for 58 %) has at least a point in 14 of his past 16, while Brendan Morrow (1A, -1, 20:22 TOI, 4:05 PP, 3:02 PK, 1 SOG) hit the 40-point plateau for the season. Stephane Robidas (1A, even, 23:53 TOI, 4:20 PP, 4:30 PK, 2 SOG) has collected points in four of eight. Brandon Segal (1A, even, 2 PIM, 13:54 TOI, 0:17 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) came into this one with six points in his last six games.

Mike Ribeiro (1G, even, 2 PIM, 22:40 TOI, 4:05 PP, 2:40 PK, 4 SOG, 12-11 FO for 52%) entered this tilt with 14 points in 12 GP since returning from injury. Loui Eriksson (1A, even, 20:19 TOI, 3:53 PP, 1:17 PK, 1 SOG) has points in seven of his past nine. James Neal (1A, +2, 15:15 TOI, 1:56 PP, 0:20 PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) needed two points today to reach 50 on the season. He has points in four of nine.

Jamie Benn (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 13:00 TOI, 1:56 PP, no PK, 5 SOG, 7-5 FO for 58%) has a point in four of his past six affairs. Trevor Daley (1G, +2, 22:41 TOI, 0:23 PP, 2:09 PK, 2 SOG) has points in five of his past seven on the back end.

St. Louis Blues 1 @ New Jersey Devils 0
Goaltending match-up: Ty Conklin (29/29) vs. Martin Brodeur (19/20, .950 SV%)
Net notes: Conklin was 1-0-2 vs. NJD coming in with 2.27/ .910 splits. This was his fourth shutout of the season and 14th of his career. Brodeur was 9-4-2-0 vs. STL with 2.55/ .905 splits and one shutout.

Paul Kariya David Backes T.J. Oshie
Andy McDonald Patrik Berglund David Perron
Alex Steen Jay McClement Brad Boyes
B.J. Crombeen Keith Tkachuk Cam Janssen

Eric Brewer Erik Johnson
Barret Jackman Roman Polak
Carlo Colaiacovo Mike Weaver

Zach Parise Travis Zajac Jamie Langenbrunner
Ilya Kovalchuk Patrik Elias Brian Rolston
Dainius Zubrus Rob Niedermayer David Clarkson
Dean McAmmond Rod Pelley Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond

Colin White Mike Mottau
Andy Greene Martin Skoula
Paul Martin Bryce Salvador

Key notes: Alex Steen (1G, +1, 15:56 TOI, 2:30 PP, 0:09 PK, 4 SOG) has scored in five of eight and he had 11 points in eight games since the break before tonight. Cam Janssen and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond had one of the best fights I've seen for awhile. They should have each earned double fighting majors for that effort based on the length of the fight alone.

Top PP times (STL): Colaiacovo (2:44), Steen (2:30), Perron (2:25), McDonald (2:25) and Berglund (2:23)
Top PP times (NJD): Kovalchuk (5:42), Martin (3:32), Parise (3:30), Zajac (3:24) and Rolston (2:36)

Montreal Canadiens 2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jaroslav Halak (31/33, .939 SV%) vs. Jonas Gustavsson (25/27, .926 SV%)
Net notes: Halak was 6-2-0 vs. TOR coming in with 2.69/ .923 splits. Gustavsson was 1-0-1 vs. MON with 2.24/ .903 splits.

Benoit Pouliot Scott Gomez Brian Gionta
Tom Pyatt Tomas Plekanec Andrei Kostitsyn
Sergei Kostitsyn Dominic Moore Travis Moen
Mathieu Darche Glen Metropolit Maxim Lapierre

Andrei Markov Ryan O'Byrne
Roman Hamrlik Jaroslav Spacek
Hal Gill Josh Gorges

Nikolai Kulemin Tyler Bozak Phil Kessel
John Mitchell Christian Hanson Fredrik Sjostrom
Viktor Stalberg Mikhail Grabovski Jamie Lundmark
Wayne Primeau Rickard Wallin Colton Orr

Dion Phaneuf Francois Beauchemin
Luke Schenn Tomas Kaberle
Carl Gunnarsson Garnet Exelby

Key notes: Brian Gionta (2G, +1, 19:03 TOI, 5:27 PP, no PK, 6 SOG) has found the back of the net in five of eight now. Benoit Pouliot (1A, +1, 19:18 TOI, 4:27 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) has points in seven of nine, while Scott Gomez (2A, +1, 2 PIM, 20:51 TOI, 5:52 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 6-11 FO for 35%) had nine points in seven games before this effort. Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the shootout.

Top PP times (MON): Hamrlik (6:33), Markov (6:23), Gomez (5:52). A. Kostitsyn (5:51) and Spacek (5:29)
Top PP times (TOR): Phaneuf (1:00), Kaberle (1:00), Bozak (1:00), Kessel (1:00), Kulemin (1:00)

Phil Kessel (1G, +1, 19:16 TOI, 1:00 PP, no PK, 5 SOG, 1-0 FO for 100%) has scored in five of his past six games. Dion Phaneuf (1A, even, 28:38 TOI, 1:00 PP, 7:18 PK, 3 SOG) has helpers in three of four now. Tyler Bozak (1G, 1A, +1, 23:15 TOI, 1:00 PP, 3:15 PK, 2 SOG, 15-5 FO for 75%) had eight points in nine outings coming in here, while Nikolai Kulemin (2A, +1, 22:39 TOI, 1:00 PP, 3:42 PK, 1 SOG) has points in eight of his past 10 GP now. He scored in the shootout along with John Mitchell.

Buffalo Sabres 3 @ Florida Panthers 1
Goaltending match-up: Ryan Miller (31/32, .969 SV%) vs. Tomas Vokoun (17/19, .895 SV%) & Scott Clemmensen (16/17, .941 SV%)
Net notes: Miller was 7-5-0 vs. FLA coming in with 2.33/ .926 splits and one shutout. Vokoun was 5-6-1-1 vs. BUF with 2.28/ .923 splits.

Thomas Vanek Derek Roy Tim Kennedy
Jochen Hecht Tim Connolly Jason Pominville
Matt Ellis Paul Gaustad Mike Grier
Drew Stafford Adam Mair Patrick Kaleta

Henrik Tallinder Tyler Myers
Steve Montador Toni Lydman
Andrej Sekera Craig Rivet

David Booth Stephen Weiss Nathan Horton
Cory Stillman Steven Reinprecht Michael Frolik
Rostislav Olesz Shawn Matthias Radek Dvorak
Gregory Campbell Kamil Kreps Byron Bitz

Bryan Allen Bryan McCabe
Dmitry Kulikov Keaton Ellerby
Keith Ballard Jason Garrison

Key notes: Tyler Myers (2A, +3, 27:49 TOI, 2:41 PP, 7:15 PK, 2 SOG) reached the 40-point plateau on the season here and has points in four of six since kicking this streak off with that four-pointer vs. DAL. Jochen Hecht (1G, +1, 18:27 TOI, 2:50 PP, 3:48 PK, 3 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has points in seven of nine.

Top PP times (BUF): Lydman (4:24), Connolly (4:18), Pominville (4:16), Vanek (4:10) and Roy (4:09)
Top PP times (FLA): McCabe (7:27), Horton (6:12), Kulikov (5:53), Weiss (5:34) and Reinprecht (5:00)

Philadelphia Flyers 2 @ Atlanta Thrashers 5
Goaltending match-up: Brian Boucher (23/28, .821 SV%) vs. Johan Hedberg (25/27, .926 SV%)
Net notes: Boucher was 4-3-2-0 vs. ATL coming in with 1.98/ .913 splits. Hedberg was 3-7-1-0 vs. PHI with 3.29/ .888 splits and one shutout.

Simon Gagne Mike Richards Daniel Carcillo
Scott Hartnell Jeff Carter Danny Briere
James van Riemsdyk Claude Giroux Ville Leino
Darroll Powe Blair Betts Ian Laperriere

Matt Carle Chris Pronger
Lukas Krajicek Kimmo Timonen
Ryan Parent Braydon Coburn

Niclas Bergfors Nik Antropov Maxim Afinogenov
Clarke MacArthur Rich Peverley Bryan Little
Jim Slater Todd White Colby Armstrong
Eric Boulton Marty Reasoner Evgeny Artyukhin

Tobias Enstrom Pavel Kubina
Ron Hainsey Johnny Oduya
Mark Popovic Zach Bogosian

Key notes: Daniel Carcillo (1G, even, 5 PIM, 8:15 TOI, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had a goal the last time he faced the Thrashers, although he had one point and no PIM in four games overall coming in. He fought today and these same teams meet tomorrow. Chris Pronger (1A, even, 26:48 TOI, 3:29 PP, 2:18 PK, 4 SOG) had nine points in 10 March GP coming in, while Matt Carle (1A, even, 25:26 TOI, 2:28 PP, 0:53 PK, 2 SOG) has points in five of eight now

Top PP times (PHI): Pronger (3:29), Carter (3:05), Timonen (3:02), Briere (2:49) and Hartnell (2:46)
Top PP times (ATL): Enstrom (2:37), Afinogenov (2:30), Bergfors (2:30), Antropov (2:18) and Bogosian (2:11)

Niclas Bergfors (1G, 1A, +1, 15:56 TOI, 2:30 PP, 0:03 PK, 4 SOG, 1-2 FO for 33%) had 11 points in 15 GP with ATL coming in. Maxim Afinogenov (1A, even, 17:18 TOI, 2:30 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had three consecutive two-pointers headed in here. Nik Antropov (1G, 1A, +1, 4 PIM, 15:59 TOI, 2:18 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 5-11 FO for 31%) also had two points in each of his past three before tonight.

Bryan Little (1G, +1, 15:59 TOI, 1:12 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 1-1 FO for 50%) has points in two of three after five without one. Tobias Enstrom (2A, +3, 20:30 TOI, 2:37 PP, no PK, no SOG) has a four-game assist streak going after six games without a point.

Clarke MacArthur (2A, +2, 19:24 TOI, 0:53 PP, 2:14 PK, 2 SOG) has points in three of four. Colby Armstrong (2G, +2, 16:39 TOI, 0:48 PP, 2:39 PK, 6 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had three points in his last game, but nothing for awhile before that effort.

Washington Capitals 3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Goaltending match-up: Jose Theodore (33/34, .971 SV%) vs. Antero Niittymaki (25/28, .893 SV%)
Net notes: Theodore was 10-6-2-0 vs. TB with 2.20/ .928 splits and one shutout. Niitty was 7-2-1 vs. WAS with 2.34/ .927 splits.

Alex Ovechkin Nicklas Backstrom Mike Knuble
Brooks Laich Brendan Morrison Alexander Semin
Jason Chimera Eric Belanger Scott Walker
Tomas Fleischmann Dave Steckel Eric Fehr

Mike Green Jeff Schultz
Tom Poti John Erskine
Shaone Morrisonn John Carlson

Martin St. Louis Steven Stamkos Steve Downie
Alex Tanguay Vincent Lecavalier Teddy Purcell
Stephane Veilleux Nate Thompson Mark Parrish
Todd Fedoruk Zenon Konopka Paul Szczechura

Kurtis Foster Victor Hedman
Andrej Meszaros Mike Lundin
Matt Walker David Hale

Key notes: Alex Ovechkin (1G, +1, 23:14 TOI, 6:40 PP, 0:21 PK, 7 SOG) was back in action after serving his suspension and he came into tonight four points below the 100-point mark. Nicklas Backstrom (1A, +1, 18:40 TOI, 4:15 PP, 0:47 PK, 1 SOG, 6-12 FO for 33%) has points in four straight and he had seven points in that span coming in here. Alexander Semin (1G, +1, 16:18 TOI, 3:59 PP, 1:31 PK, 5 SOG) only had five points in nine games before tonight.

Tomas Fleischmann (1G, +1, 15:03 TOI, 1:57 PP, 2:25 PK, 1 SOG) stopped a three-game pointless skid here and has points in five of nine. Eric Fehr (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 10:13 TOI, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had a three-game goal scoring streak on the line here and he has points in seven of 10.

Brooks Laich (1A, +1, 18:16 TOI, 3:39 PP, 3:35 PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) extended his point streak to six games, while Brendan Morrison (1A, +1, 14:44 TOI, 2:25 PP, 0:30 PK, 2 SOG, 5-10 FO for 33%) has points in five of seven.

Top PP times (WAS): Ovechkin (6:40), Green (6:36), Backstrom (4:15), Semin (3:59) and Laich (3:39)
Top PP times (TB): Foster (7:48), St. Louis (7:45), Stamkos (7:37), Lecavalier (6:43) and Downie (4:03)

Vincent Lecavalier (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 23:38 TOI, 6:43 PP, 2:05 PK, 7 SOG, 14-11 FO for 56%) has scored in six of his past nine starts. Teddy Purcell (1A, +1, 18:13 TOI, 2:49 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had five points in eight outings with TB coming into this tilt. Zenon Konopka (even, 5 PIM, 1:07 PP, no PK, no SOG, 6-0 FO for 100%) returned to the ice here, doing what he does best for his poolies.

Columbus Blue Jackets 0 @ Nashville Predators 1 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Steve Mason (30/31, .968 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (33/33)
Net notes: Mason was 3-2-2 vs. NAS coming in with 2.78/ .907 splits. Rinne was 4-2-0 vs. CBJ with 3.10/ .885 splits.

Kristian Huselius Antoine Vermette Rick Nash
R.J. Umberger Derick Brassard Jakub Voracek
Andrew Murray Samuel Pahlsson Chris Clark
Derek Dorsett Mike Blunden Jared Boll

Marc Methot Fedor Tyutin
Kris Russell Mike Commodore
Nathan Paetsch Anton Stralman

Colin Wilson Jason Arnott Martin Erat
Steve Sullivan Marcel Gox Patric Hornqvist
Jerred Smithson David Legwand Joel Ward
J.P. Dumont Dustin Boyd Jordin Tootoo

Shea Weber Ryan Suter
Kevin Klein Francis Bouillon
Dan Hamhuis Cody Franson

Key notes:

Top PP times (CBJ): Tyutin (2:44), Umberger (2:44), Huselius (2:44), Nash (2:39) and Stralman (2:36)
Top PP times (NAS): Weber (3:14), Erat (3:04), Arnott (3:04), Suter (3:04) and Hornqvist (2:44)

Cody Franson (1G, +1, 15:57 TOI, 1:06 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) scored the only goal of the game, which was his 19th point of the season and third GWG too. Martin Erat (1A, +1, 16:54 TOI, 3:04 PP, 0:47 PK, no SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has 11 points in 11 games this month. Colin Wilson (1A, +1, 17:19 TOI, 1:36 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 0-3 FO for 0%) has seven points in his last seven outings.

Chicago Blackhawks 4 @ Phoenix Coyotes 5 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Antti Niemi (31/35, .886 SV%) vs. Ilya Bryzgalov (34/38, .895 SV%)
Net notes: Niemi hadn't faced PHO before tonight. Bryzgalov was 5-4-3 vs. CHI with 2.49/ .912 splits.

Troy Brouwer Jonathan Toews Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp Dave Bolland Marian Hossa
Kris Versteeg John Madden Andrew Ladd
Ben Eager Adam Burish Tomas Kopecky

Duncan Keith Brent Sopel
Dustin Byfuglien Niklas Hjalmarsson
Jordan Hendry Nick Boynton

Wojtek Wolski Matthew Lombardi Shane Doan
Petr Prucha Martin Hanzal Radim Vrbata
Taylor Pyatt Vernon Fiddler Lee Stempniak
Lauri Korpikoski Petteri Nokelainen Daniel Winnik

Keith Yandle Derek Morris
Zbynek Michalek Ed Jovanovski
Mathieu Schneider Adrian Aucoin

Key notes: Patrick Kane (1G, 1A, -1, 20:17 TOI, 2:48 PP, 0:05 PK, 8 SOG) came into tonight with 11 points in nine games since returning from the Olympics. Jonathan Toews (1A, -1, 21:18 TOI, 2:48 PP, 2:13 PK, 4 SOG, 15-10 FO for 60%) had 11 points in 10 GP coming in here, while Troy Brouwer (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 16:56 TOI, 2:32 PP, 0:55 PK, 2 SOG) has points in four of his past five outings.

Marian Hossa (2A, +1, 20:33 TOI, 2:42 PP, 2:13 PK, 3 SOG) had seven points in seven games before tonight, while Duncan Keith (1A, -1, 28:00 TOI, 3:08 PP, 3:08 PK, 1 SOG) came into this affair with 63 points and what more can be said about his offensive production this season? Unreal. Patrick Sharp (1G, +1, 17:30 TOI, 2:16 PP, 1:14 PK, 3 SOG, 3-0 FO for 100%) needed two points tonight to hit 60 for the season.

Top PP times (CHI): Keith (3:08), Kane (2:48), Toews (2:48), Hossa (2:42), Brouwer (2:32)
Top PP times (PHO): Schneider (4:16), Wolski (3:48), Lombardi (3:34), Aucoin (2:59) and Stempniak (2:45)

Lee Stempniak (2G, even, 16:10 TOI, 2:45 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) hit and passed the 40-point mark here and extended his point streak to nine games. He had seven goals in seven games before tonight too. Wojtek Wolski (1G, 1A, even, 20:57 TOI, 3:48 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) had five points in seven games with PHO coming in here and he stopped a five-game goalless stretch this evening. Shane Doan (1A, +1, 19:21 TOI, 2:05 PP, 0:10 PK, 2 SOG, 0-2 FO for 0%) has helpers in four of his past five.

Mathieu Schneider (1A, +1, 4:16 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) had two assists in his last game. This was Adrian Aucoin's (1G, 1A, even, 2 PIM, 21:05 TOI, 2:59 PP, 1:52 PK, 5 SOG) second multi-pointer this month, but he still only had three points on the month coming in.

Detroit Red Wings 4 @ Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Jimmy Howard (29/32, .906 SV%) vs. Roberto Luongo (50/54, .926 SV%)
Net notes: Howard was 2-2-0 vs. VAN coming in with 3.23/ .900 splits. Luongo was 7-10-1-1 vs. DET with 2.60/ .926 splits.

Johan Franzen Pavel Datsyuk Tomas Holmstrom
Valtteri Filppula Henrik Zetterberg Todd Bertuzzi
Brett Lebda Drew Miller Jason Williams
Derek Meech Darren Helm Kris Draper

Nicklas Lidstrom Brian Rafalski
Niklas Kronwall Brad Stuart
Jonathan Ericsson Andreas Lilja

Daniel Sedin Henrik Sedin Alex Burrows
Michael Grabner Ryan Kesler Pavol Demitra
Mason Raymond Kyle Wellwood Jannik Hansen
Darcy Hordichuk Ryan Johnson Rick Rypien

Alexander Edler Sami Salo
Shane O'Brien Christian Ehrhoff
Kevin Bieksa Aaron Rome

Key notes: Pavel Datsyuk (1G, even, 1:41 PP, 0:26 PK, 3 SOG, 13-11 FO for 54%) reached the 60-point mark on a goal that Roberto Luongo would like to forget, even though he was outstanding tonight on the whole. Datsyuk has scored in six of eight with points in 17 of 20. Todd Bertuzzi (1G, +1, 18:31 TOI, 1:39 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) ended a five-game pointless skid. Valtteri Filppula (1G, 2A, +3, 21:56 TOI, 2:09 PP, 1:56 PK, 3 SOG, 3-2 FO for 60%) celebrated his 26th birthday with a multi-pointer. He had four points in seven games before tonight.

Niklas Kronwall (1A, even, 22:01 TOI, 1:36 PP, 3:01 PK, 3 SOG) has points in three of his past five on D. Henrik Zetterberg (1G, 1A, +3, 23:15 TOI, 1:50 PP, 1:56 PK, 9 SOG, 7-8 FO for 47%) needed two points here to reach 60 on the season. He had 16 in 15 before this one began. He got the OT GWG with less than a second left on the clock a night after Brian Rafalski got the GTG right before regulation ended in Edmonton.

Top PP times (DET): Lidstrom (2:30), Filppula (2:09), Williams (1:57), Rafalski (1:55) and Zetterberg (1:50)
Top PP times (VAN): Bieksa (2:27), Salo (2:27), D. Sedin (2:21), H. Sedin (2:21) and Demitra (2:03)

Daniel Sedin (1G, +2, 22:22 TOI, 2:21 PP, 0:08 PK, 3 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had a hat trick of assists the last time he met the Wings and he reached the 70-point mark for the season tonight. His 11-game point streak was stopped in the last game, but it didn't take long for him to get back in the scoring summary. Henrik Sedin (1A, +1, 21:57 TOI, 2:21 PP, 0:01 PK, 2 SOG, 8-9 FO for 47%) came into tonight just six points shy of his first career 100-point campaign.

Christian Ehrhoff (1A, even, 26:47 TOI, 1:33 PP, 1:41 PK, 1 SOG) has points in eight of his past 11 and he has back-to-back 40-point campaigns now. Mason Raymond (1A, even, 2 PIM, 18:04 TOI, no PP, 1:21 PK, 2 SOG) has points in two of three after having one in six. Kevin Bieksa (1A, -1, 20:35 TOI, 2:27 PP, 0:54 PK, 4 SOG) has now played five times since returning from injury and this was his first time garnering a point for his owners.

New York Islanders 0 @ Los Angeles Kings 1
Goaltending match-up: Dwayne Roloson (25/26, .962 SV%) vs. Jonathan Quick (26/26)
Net notes: Roloson was 7-11-5-0 vs. LOS coming in with 2.19/ .922 splits and two shutouts. Quick was 2-0-0 vs. NYI with 1.92/ .926 splits. This was his fourth shutout of the season, which matches last year, while also giving him eight in his brief career.

Jeff Tambellini John Tavares Blake Comeau
Matt Moulson Frans Nielsen Trent Hunter
Jon Sim Josh Bailey Tim Jackman
Sean Bergenheim Richard Park Kyle Okposo

Mark Streit Bruno Gervais
Freddy Meyer Dylan Reese
Jack Hillen Dustin Kohn

Brad Richardson Anze Kopitar Wayne Simmonds
Fredrik Modin Michal Handzus Dustin Brown
Alexander Frolov Jeff Halpern Justin Williams
Ryan Smyth Jarret Stoll Scott Parse

Rob Scuderi Drew Doughty
Sean O'Donnell Jack Johnson
Randy Jones Matt Greene

Key notes:

Top PP times (NYI): Tavares (6:16), Okposo (6:08), Moulson (5:41), Streit (5:40), Nielsen (5:00)
Top PP times (LOS): Kopitar (6:16), Smyth (6:16), Doughty (5:33), Stoll (5:16), Handzus 4:49)

Brad Richardson (1G, +1, 15:29 TOI, 0:17 PP, 1:32 PK, 4 SOG) had two other goals this month, while Wayne Simmonds (1A, +1, 11:33 TOI, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had one point in March coming in here.

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