NHL Recap: Feb 18, 2013 – Blown Calls, Blow Outs & Shutouts

Besides Ottawa’s 2-1 shootout win over the Devils, there were 6 other games around the NHL on a holiday Monday afternoon and evening.  The three Canadian teams in action were all involved in shutouts, with two being on the good end of the blankings.  Here is a quick tour around the league.

Feb 18, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Brayden Schenn (10) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

1. Evgeni Nabokov allowed all 7 goals, on just 25 shots, in the Flyers 7-0 pasting of the Islanders.  Jacob Voracek assisted on the first 4 Flyers goals, and three point nights were put up by Matt Read, Claude Giroux and Danny Briere. Ilya Bryzgalov made 19 saves for the shutout.
2. A blatantly bad offside non-call allowed Matt Duchene to score early in the second period to put the Avalanche up 3-1 on the Predators, a goal from which Nashville never recovered in losing 6-5.  The goal was about 10 feet offside, but the linesman allegedy thought the Predators had played the puck into their own zone, and allowed the play to continue. Waiver pickup Aaron Palushaj had a goal and two assists, and in 4 games with the Avs is one point shy of his career high of 5 set in 38 games last year with the Habs.
3. Peter Budaj made 19 saves for his first shutout as a Montreal Canadien and won his second straight start in relief of the flu-bound Carey Price as the Habs shut out the Hurricanes 3-0.  All the scoring was done in the third period, with goals from Brandon Prust, Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty.
4. Ben Scrivens stopped 37 Panthers shots to get his 2nd straight shutout for the Toronto Maple Leafs and his second straight 3-0 win.  Phil Kessel‘s rocket wrister in the first period was the winner, and insurance goals came off the sticks of Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur in the second as the Leafs stay 2 points up on the Senators in the Northeast Divison.
5. Mike Smith made 30 saves for the shutout in Phoenix’ 4-0 win over the visiting Flames.  Keith Yandle scored what was the game winner in the first minute against Danny Taylor, making his first NHL start and his first appearance since March 29, 2008 when he came in in relief of Erik Ersberg for the LA Kings.  Taylor allowed third period goals to Mikkel Boedker, Antoine Vermette and Raffi Torres to put the game out of reach.
6. Jonas Hiller made his first start in 10 day, and made it count as the Ducks beat the Blue Jackets 3-2.  Peter Holland, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry scored for the Ducks, while Vinny Prospal and Derick Brassard replied for Columbus.

There are another 8 games on Tuesday featuring the Senators returning home to host the Islanders, while  Montreal heads to MSG to face the Rangers and the Leafs finish their Florida swing in Tampa against the Lightning.  Check back tomorrow for a recap of all the action.