Goals were a plenty in the NHL last night and there a few meaningful games. While one game out of an 82 game schedule doesn’t make much of a difference, teams can always draw on the good or bad from big time matchups.Red Wings 6, Sharks 0: Unless you’re a Red Wings fan or just hate San Jose, this highly anticipated matchup was pretty boring. While this was the second game in as many nights on the road for San Jose, you just can’t be losing by six goals when you’re that good. Both teams were well below their average in shots and Ty Conklin only had to turn away 24 shots for the shutout. Pavel Datsyuk piled up his best game of the year with 2g, 2a, and +4 rating. Brad Stuart broke out a lengthy goal drought with his first goal of the year in the third period. Among the other goal scorers were Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen, Daniel Cleary, and Valtteri Filppula. Detroit also went 0-4 on the power play. It will be interesting to see the next game between these two teams and hopefully both teams are fully rested.
Canadiens 5, Flyers 2: The Flyers enter this game with an absurd record of late. While they were13-1-3 in their past seventeen games, Montreal was on the other side of the tracks with only five wins in the past twelve games. The Canadiens struck three times in the first fifteen minutes of the game to lead 3-1 at the first intermission. Alex Kovalev, who ended a twenty game goal drought the other night, added another one on the power play and Montreal won a big game, 5-2. For the Flyers, you just can’t win them all. They must face Washington and New Jersey this weekend, so look for them to bounce back strong. For Montreal, it was a big win with Halak in net as Carey Price remains injured. Halak received some much needed scoring, something that rarely happens when he is in net.
Bruins 8, Maple Leafs 5: Toronto was one of the few teams to beat Boston this year and has played well against them, and they proved it yet again. Boston jumped out 36 seconds into the game and took a 1-0 lead. They led 2-1 at the first intermission and then proceeded to score three more time in the first four minutes of the second period to lead 5-1. Game over, right? Not even close. Toronto battled back with three goals of their own to make it a 5-4 game. But not to be outdone, Phil Kessel, with a 16 game point streak, scored only to have Jason Blake respond. At the end of two periods, it was 6-5 Boston, and both teams had four, second period goals. However, Boston prevailed in the third with two more goals, sealing the 8-5 win. David Krejci broke out for his first career hat trick while Marc Savard scored 1g and 3a. The Bruins are now 22-5-4.
Pittsburgh 6, Atlanta 3 [Colorado 2, Tampa Bay 1 [Recap]
Washington 4, St. Louis 2 [Recap]
Carolina 2, Florida 1 [Recap]
Dallas 6, Columbus 5 [Recap]
Phoenix 2, Nashville 1 [Recap]
Top Producers
Pavel Datsyuk (DET): 2g, 2a, +4, 4 SOG
Evgeni Malkin (PIT): 2g, 2a, +3, 3 SOG
Marc Savard (BOS): 1g, 3a, +1, 3 SOG
Brad Richards (DAL): 1g, 3a, +1, 3 SOG
David Krejci (BOS): 3g, +1, 3 SOG
Loui Ericksson (DAL): 3g, 4 SOG
Ty Conklin (DET): 24 SV, 0 GA, 100.0 SV%
Mike Smith (TB): 34 SV, 1GA, 97.1 SV%
Andrew Raycroft (COL): 37 SV, 1 GA, 97.4 SV%
Andrew Raycroft (COL): 37 SV, 1 GA, 97.4 SV%
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