NHL Recap: Feb 21, 2013 – Sabres Lose Rolston’s Debut, Hall Could Face Suspension

Aside from the Senators come from behind shootout win over the Rangers, there were 9 other games on a busy Thursday night around the league, with 6 Canadian teams in action.  Here is a quick tour around the league.

Feb 21, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Michael Kostka (53) and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson (36) and center Tyler Bozak (42) and right wing Phil Kessel (81) celebrate a goal by forward James van Riemsdyk (21) on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller (30) during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

1. Buffalo, and new head coach Ron Rolston, walked into Toronto and promptly lost 3-1 to the Maple Leafs.  James van Riemsdyk scored a pair and Dion Phaneuf added a power play goal and an assist to lead the Leafs charge.  Phil Kessel had two assists for the Leafs, and Ben Scrivens made 31 saves in his third start in 4 days.  Tyler Ennis had the lone Buffalo goal, as the team now sits 14th in the Eastern Conference
2. After an emotional victory against the cross-state rival Penguins on Wednesday, the Flyers had little left in the tank and it showed in their 5-2 loss to the Panthers.  The Panthers scored three times in a 2 minute span in the first period on goals by Peter Mueller, Tomas Kopecky and a penalty shot goal from Jonathan Huberdeau.  The Panthers rookie then notched a power play goal in the second to put Florida up 4-0 and chase Ilya Bryzgalov from the Flyers net.  Mueller scored his second of the game in the third, and it was sandwiched between Flyers goals from Luke Schenn and Jakub Voracek, but too little, much too late for the Flyers.
3. New Jersey scored twice in the third period to come from behind and beat Washington 3-2. Mathieu Perreault and Mike Ribeiro scored power play goals surrounding Patrik Elias‘ shorthanded marker in the second period before Andrei Loktionov and Ilya Kovalchuk tied the game and then won the game for New Jersey.
4. It was a see-saw battle in Carolina that saw the Jets take the lead three times, and each time the Hurricanes had the answer to tie the game.  Finally the Jets won it with Blake Wheeler‘s goal to break the 3-3 tie fifteen seconds after Jiri Tlusty had tied it up for the third time.  It was Wheeler’s second of the game as he had also opened the scoring, and the Jets also got goals from Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd.  Tlusty also had a pair for the Canes, with Jordan Staal netting the other Carolina goal.
5. The Islanders managed only 3 shots in the first period and found themselves down 2-0 after one, but clawed their way back to a 4-3 OT victory over the Canadiens.  Thomas Hickey‘s first NHL goal was the OT winner, as the player who captained Team Canada at the World Juniors in Ottawa is finally getting a chance to play in New York.  Matt Moulson scored twice for the Isles, with Frans Nielsen adding the other.  Travis Moen had opened the scoring, with Max Pacioretty scoring twice to put the Habs up 3-1, but they could not hang on despite earning a point to remain on top of the Eastern Conference.
6. Nathan Horton scored twice as Boston doubled up Tampa Bay 4-2.  Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand had the other for the Bruins, as Steven Stamkos and Cory Conacher replied for the Lightning.  Teddy Purcell assisted on both Lightning goals.
7. The Blue Jackets overcame the scary loss of Artem Anisimov to score 3 unanswered goals to come from behind and beat the Red Wings 3-2.  Anisimov was taken off the ice on a stretcher when he collided with the elbow of  Ian White and then had his head landed on by Kyle Quincey, who fell on top of him.  Anisimov was apparently alert after the incident and will be ok.  Vinny Prospal had the winner with just 25 seconds left after Derek Dorsett had tied the game earlier in the third. Damien Brunner scored 18 seconds into the game and Valtteri Filppula added another to give Detroit a very early 2-0 lead before R.J. Umberger got one back on the power play, setting the stage for the comeback.
8. Vancouver broke a 2-2 tie with two goals in the first five minutes of the third, and then held on to beat the Stars 4-3.  Vancouver got goals from Alexandre Burrows, Kevin Bieksa, Jason Garrison and Henrik Sedin, along with 22 saves from Cory Schneider to get the win.  Scoring for Dallas were Jamie Benn, Michael Ryder and Brenden Morrow.
9. Matt Cullen had two goals and also assisted on Devin Setoguchi‘s game winner as the Wild beat the Oilers 3-1 in Edmonton.  Ryan Smyth had the lone goal for the Oilers, who might be without Taylor Hall for a couple of games after his knee on knee collision with Cal Clutterbuck.  Hall caught Clutterbuck with a knee coming through the neutral zone and could face suspension after receiving a 5 minute major and game misconduct for kneeing.

So ends our recap of Thursday’s action around the league.  Check back tomorrow for a recap of a light, 3 game, Friday night.