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Philadelphia Flyers 2 New Jersey Devils 4
The Eastern Conference leaders may have scored first but holding the lead became the challenge.
Flyers James van Riemsdyk tipped-in a goal from Mike Richards just over halfway though the first period. It would be Patrik Elias with a snap shot early in the second to tie the game. It would be Elias again less than two minutes later with yet another snap shot, this time short handed, that would give the Devils the lead over the Flyers.
Jeff Carter came out fired up in the third and scored early for the Flyers to tied the game up at two. Seconds later Flyers Darroll Powe would take a holding penalty and give the Devils the man advantage – that lucky for the Flyers the Devils were unable to capitalize on.
Nick Palmieri tipped-in an Ilya Kovalchuk shot to regain the lead for New Jersey. Then things started to get ugly.
At the 17:14 mark in the period Elias scored his third of the game to put the Devils up 4-2 over the Flyers late in the game. At the same time Flyers Kris Versteeg was assessed a 10 minute misconduct. Then with one second left in the game Claude Giroux was also given a 10 minute misconduct.
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Chicago Blackhawks 4 Columbus Blue Jackets 3 (SO)
Central Division showdown in Columbus.
The current Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks took the early 2-0 lead with goals form Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook before Maksim Mayorov scored his first of the season, to cut the Blackhawks lead in half before heading to the first intermission.
The second period would see nine penalties called including a double minor for hi-sticking to Chicago’s Patrick Kane, Roughing to Chicago’s captain Jonathan Toews (roughing was also assessed to Columbus’ Derek Dorsett at the same time – Dorsett was also given a cross checking penalty on the play), and a boarding call on Blackhawks Marian Hossa; all before Blue Jackets Derick Brassard put a slap shot past Corey Crawford for the tie game.
The third period would see the Blue Jackets take the lead with a goal from Samuel Pahlsson; only to have Blackhawks Bryan Bickell tie the game and force overtime.
Shootout results:
Maksim Mayorov – Save
Jonathan Toews – Miss
Tomas Kublai – Save
Patrick Kane – Save
Jakub Voracek – Save
Viktor Stalberg – Goal
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Calgary Flames 3 St. Louis Blues 2
Coming off of the destruction of the Detroit Red Wings 10-3 the Blues fell to the Flames.
The Blues took the lead in the first with a power play goal from Matt D’Agostini after Flames captain Jarome Iginla sat for a bench penalty for too many men.
The second period would see four cross checking penalties and two goals as David Backes would make it 2-0 for the Blues before Iginla would put a backhander past Jarvoslav Halak.
The Flames were fired up for the third as Alex Tanguay would tie the game at two and then Iginla would get the game winner with his second goal of the game.
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Colorado Avalanche 4 Phoenix Coyotes 3 (SO)
Even with extra time the Avalanche were only able to put 20 shots on goal; however, that just happened to be enough.
Colorado goaltender Peter Budaj made 35 saves as Phoenix peppered him with nearly double the amount of shots as Ilya Bryzgalov faced at the other end of the rink.
The Avalanche took the lead with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first period after Philippe Dupuis scored his fifth of the season.
The second period would see Colordao go up 2-0 with a wrister from Jay McClement before Lee Stempniak would go backhand on Budja to cut the lead in half before the second intermission.
The momentum for the Coyotes would carry over to the third with an early goal from Ray Whitney tie the game. Coyotes captain Shane Doan would score on the power play to give Phoenix their first lead of the game.
Ryan O’Reilly would tie the game at three for the Avalanche and force extra time.
Shootout Results:
Kyle Turris – Miss
Milan Hejduk – Save
Radim Vrbata – Miss
Ryan O’Reilly – Goal
Ray Whitney – Miss
Three Stars for the game all came from the defeated Coyotes:
Ray Whitney
Shane Doan
Lee Stempniak
Up into the Netting
The New York Rangers may have sent Mats Zuccarello back to the Whale in the AHL but the morning column here at THW will maintain our name. Lykke til Mats.
Former Red Wing (and Calgary Flame) Darren McCarty sat down with Terry Foster to talk about how he and Claude Lemieux will be signing autographs today.
April is Autism Awareness month and Brad May is urging people to go to lightupblue.org to support Autism Speaks; and as one with a background in working in special education I back up May.
Igor Larionov has been appointed to a three-year term on the HHOF Selection Committee set to expire on March 31, 2014.
Washington Capitals Dennis Wideman is sidelined with a hematoma.
Anze Kopitar might be out but his brotherGasper is making a name for himself in the USHL.
Nabokov watch is back in affect as he talks about his future with the NHL, the Islanders, and the Russian national team.
Nicklas Lidstrom and Teemu Sleanne may be 40 but they still have plenty of game left in them.
My video of the week: