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AROUND THE NHL
The Canucks had a day off yesterday, but there was a ton of action for you to watch as the schedule offered up 13 games last night. Let’s start with the North Division and the Toronto Maple Leafs who were in Calgary to take on the Flames.
Mitch Marner’s 5th of the season in the 3rd period would be the difference as the Leafs handed Jacob Markstrom and the Flames their 2nd straight loss. The win moved Toronto into sole possession of 1st place in the North Division. Johnny Gaudreau scored twice for the Flames.
Next, we’re off to Winnipeg where the Edmonton Oilers blew a 3-1 lead, as the Jets scored 3 third period goals in 3:27 for a 6-4 win. Andrew Copp scored twice for Winnipeg, and Nikolaj Ehlers had 1G and 3A in the victory. Connor McDavid scored his 5th of the year as Edmonton drops to 3-5-0 on the season.
After coughing up a 2-0 lead in the 3rd, Craig Smith rescued the Bruins, scoring on a 2 on 0 in OT to give Boston a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen scored in the 3rd for the Penguins, who are part of a 3 team log jam in the East division with the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.
Justin Schultz notched the game winner with just 27 seconds remaining as the Washington Capitals move into first in the East with a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist in a losing cause for the Islanders.
Jack Eichel’s 1st goal of the season was a big one as it broke a 2-2 tie in the 2nd and stood up as the winner, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. The Rangers fall to 1-4-1 on the season with the loss, while Buffalo improves to 3-3-1 and have won two straight.
Two goals from James Van Reimsdyk and a 3 goal 3rd period were the difference in a 5-3 Philadelphia Flyers win over the New Jersey Devils last night. The win allowed the Flyers to keep pace in the East, while New Jersey finds themselves 2 points back of the playoff cutoff line.
Patrik Hornqvist with some heroics last night, scoring with 3 seconds left to send the game to extra time, then scoring the shootout winner as the Florida Panthers defeated Columbus 4-3. Florida is now 3-0-0 to start the season, while the Blue Jackets fall to 2-2-3 but still remain atop the Central Division for now.
Roman Josi had the OT winner for the Nashville Predators as they leapfrogged the Chicago Blackhawks in the standings thanks to a 3-2 win in Nashville last night. Mikeal Granlund had a 2 point night for the Preds in the victory.
Dallas moved to 3-0-0 to start the season thanks to Jason Dickinson OT winner, giving the Stars a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Stars are off to a fantastic start after having their season openers postponed due to an outbreak on the team, and have surrendered just 3 goals so far.
Carl Grundstrom snapped a 1-1 tie in the 3rd to give the Los Angeles Kings a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Kings are now 3-2-2 to start the year, doing much better so far than many had predicted.
Danton Heinen’s 1st period tally was all the Anaheim Ducks would need, as John Gibson stopped all 31 Arizona Coyotes shots en route to a 1-0 win in Glendale last night. The Ducks are part of a 4 team pack with 8 points in the West Division right now, as teams battle for a little separation and a shot at one of those 4 playoff seeds.
Brandon Saad scored twice, and Mikko Rantanen scored in his 6th straight as the Colorado Avalanche stomped the San Jose Sharks 7-3. Cale Makar had a 3 assist night for the Avs in the win.
David Perron’s pair beat Max Pacioretty’s hat trick, as the St Louis Blues came out victorious in a 5-4 SO win over Alex Pietrangelo and the Vegas Golden Knights. It was the first of 8 meetings between the Knights big free agent signing and his former team. The entire Vegas coaching staff has been placed in COVID-19 Protocol after an unidentified coach tested positive. Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon was behind the bench, assisted by staff from the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL.