NHL Recap Jan 24, 2013 – Leafs Get Shelled, Oilers Dramatic Win

It was an eventful night around the NHL.  In addition to the Ottawa Senators’ 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers there were 9 other NHL games, with a couple of former Senators making some headlines.  Here is a quick tour around the league:

Jan 24, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing

(81) and right wing

(88) celebrate Hossa game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the overtime period at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Toronto Maple Leafs led 3-1 after 20 minutes, but the New York Islanders scored 5 unanswered goals in the second and third to beat the Leafs 7-4.  Michael Grabner and Brad Boyes each had 3 points while Matt Moulson had a pair in the win.  Ben Scrivens got pulled after the 5th Islanders goal, making way for James Reimer.  And somewhere, Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis suddenly got a smile on his face.
2. The Philadelphia Flyers finally got in the win column as Ilya Bryzgalov was forced to make only 18 saves to defeat the New York Rangers 2-1.  A day after the New York media was proclaiming Rick Nash – Brad Richards – Marian Gaborik the best line in the history of hockey, the trio were a combined -2 with 1 assist between the three of them in over 65 combined minutes of ice time.
3. The Washington Capitals’ misery continued as the Montreal Canadiens walked into Landover and pounded the Caps 4-1.  Andrei Markov‘s power play goal was the winner and was also his third of the season as he makes up for lost time and P. K. Subban’s leverage slowly diminishes.
4. Eric Staal‘s hat trick goal into an empty net was the nail in the coffin for the Buffalo Sabres as they fell 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes.  Jordan Staal had two assists to complement his brother’s performance.  Jeff Skinner had a pair for the winners, and Jason Pominville had two in the losing cause for the Sabres.
5. Jaroslav Halak had a relatively easy 13 save shutout as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Nashville Predators 3-0.  Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko had his 4th goal of the season for St. Louis as Wade Redden made his much anticipated return to the NHL.
6. It wasn’t easy, but Marian Hossa‘s OT goal kept the Chicago Blackhawks perfect (4-0) so far this season as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Dallas Stars 3-2.  It was Hossa’s league leading 5th goal of the season.
7. Matt Duchene had 2 goals and an assist while Semyon Varlamov made 33 saves for the shutout as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 in Denver.
8. The Edmonton Oilers overcame first period penalty trouble and used last second heroics from Nail Yakupov to send the game to overtime where they defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1.  The crazy finish saw an Oilers goal waved off with 65 seconds left because Sam Gagner got tied up with Jonathan Quick, preventing Quick from being able to make a save.  That set up Yakupov’s tying goal with just 4.6 seconds left.  Perhaps it was poetic justice, but Gagner ended up getting the winner in overtime.  The teams combined to go 1 for 17 on the power play in the game.  That 1 PPG – the OT winner.
9. The San Jose Sharks scored 4 goals in the final 10:45 to overcome a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Phoenix Coyotes 5-3.  Joe Thornton had a goal and three assists, while Patrick Marleau (2G, 1A) and Joe Pavelski (3 assists) also had big nights.  A night after his hat trick against the Blue Jackets, Steve Sullivan had a goal and an assist against the Sharks in the losing cause.

That wraps up a busy night in the NHL.  There are 7 games on Friday night, including the Senators looking to stay perfect against Tampa while Washington will try to get their first win in New Jersey.