It was a busy night around the NHL, with 9 games other than Ottawa’s win over Buffalo on the Tuesday night schedule. Here is a quick tour around the league:
February 5, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) plays with a bloody nose against the New York Islanders during the third period of an NHL game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
- David Clarkson scored twice and added an assist and Patrik Elias had three assists in New Jersey’s 3-2 win over the Rangers. Martin Brodeur stopped 24 of 25 shots, while Henrik Lundqvist only stopped 19 of 22 in the Rangers net.
- Sidney Crosby had an assist and took a deflected puck in the mouth during Pittsburgh’s 4-2 win over the Islanders. Crosby came back to finish the game, but was wadded up with gauze in his nose and mouth after taking the deflected shot off the stick of Brian Strait.
- James van Riemsdyk scored twice to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead and Korbinian Holzer scored his first career goal that stood as the game winner in Toronto’s 3-2 win over the Capitals. Washington continues to sit in the Eastern Conference basement with only 5 points. Adam Oates‘ tenure on the Capitals bench might be destined to be a short one.
- The LA Kings got a much needed 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets, as Mike Richards scored his first goal of the season as an insurance marker. The win keeps the Kings in contact with the final playoff spots in the West, as a loss would have seen the defending champs in the basement.
- Tom Sestito scored both Flyers goals, his first two of the season, as they held the vaunted Tampa Bay offense in check en route to a 2-1 win. Steven Stamkos failed to get on the board for the first time this season in the losing cause.
- Jarome Iginla and the Flames both got huge monkeys off their backs as they walked into Detroit and beat the Red Wings 4-1. Iginla opened the scoring (his first of the year) to get off the slide. The win did come at a cost as the already last-place Flames lost star goalie Miikka Kiprusoff with a lower body injury near the end of the second period, and Leland Irving had to play the third. The extent of the injury is not yet known.
- The Jets returned to Winnipeg after a tough road trip, and needed overtime but they downed the Panthers 3-2. Bryan Little scored on the power play in the extra frame to give the Jets the win, despite having never led in the game.
- Nashville got only 19 shots, but used goals from 6 different players in lighting up Brian Elliott and the Blues to the tune of 6-1. Martin Erat led the way with a goal and two assists, while Colin Wilson had 3 assists. Elliott allowed 4 goals on 11 shots in 29 minutes before he was replaced by Jake Allen who didn’t fare much better. The Blues hadn’t given up 6 goals in a game since March 1, 2011.
- The Blackhawks won the battle of the top two teams in the West, as Patrick Kane scored the winner and then added the insurance marker into the empty net to give the Hawks a 5-3 win over the Sharks. Chicago came back from 2-0 and 3-1 defecits to down San Jose, whose top scorers Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau were held off the scoresheet.
That concludes our tour around a busy NHL for Tuesday night. Check back tomorrow for a recap of the 3 games that are set to face-off Wednesday night.