After a relatively quiet night on Friday, the NHL had all 30 teams in action on Saturday night. In addition to the Senators 3-2 shootout win over the Lightning, there were 14 other games around the league. Here is your NHL roundup, a recap of all the action:
Sidney Crosby had his second straight 3 point game of the season, keying the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Crosby had a goal and two assits, matched by fellow superstar Evgeni Malkin as the Pens took a 3-0 first period lead and coasted from there.
Wayne Simmonds‘ pair of goals had the Philadelphia Flyers up 3-0 within the first minute of the second period, but the Flyers let off the gas and Andrei Markov keyed a Montreal Canadiens comeback with a goal and two assists in the third period. The game went to overtime and then the shootout, with only P.A. Parenteau in the fourth round being able to beat either goalie.
Speaking of blown leads, the Edmonton Oilers had leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 but allowed the Canucks a pair of power play goals to tie it up and then win in the shootout on Chris Higgins‘ third round winner.
The trio of Marc Acrobello, David Perron and Teddy Purcell each had 2 points for the Oilers as their top line was held in check, while Daniel Sedin‘s three helpers keyed the Canucks’ comebacks.
The Washington Capitals’ best players were their best players as Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the first period and Braden Holtby stopped all 29 shots he faced in a shutout of the Boston Bruins. Nicklas Backstrom set up both Ovechkin goals, while John Carlson and Andre Burakovsky each added two assists.
Darcy Kuemper recorded the second shutout of the night, also his second shutout in two games this season. The victims for the second straight time were the Colorado Avalanche shooters as Kuemper turned away all 30 shots he faced and Jason Zucker, Charlie Coyle and Zach Parise (into an empty net) scored for the Minnesota Wild in a 3-0 win.
Alex Stalock was the third perfect goalie, as the San Jose Sharks got a goal and an assist from Patrick Marleau as they beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-0. Stalock made 30 saves for the shutout.
Ryan Getzlaf‘s second of the game with 24 seconds left was the winner as the Anaheim Ducks edged the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Frederik Andersen stopped 27 of 29 shots for the win in his first start of the season.
Damon Severson had his first career assist and then also chipped in his first career goal to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Martin Havlat and Mike Cammalleri had power play goals as the Devils chased Roberto Luongo after just 22 minutes, beating him 5 times on just 14 shots.
Cam Atkinson scored twice, including the game-sealing empty netter as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New York Rangers 5-2. Marco Dano had a goal and an assist (his first NHL points) as did Nick Foligno while Ryan Johansen and Scott Hartnell each had a pair of helpers. Anthony Duclair assisted on both Rangers goals, also his first career NHL points, in the losing effort.
Paul Stastny and Kevin Shattenkirk each had 3 assists to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames.
Eric Nystrom had a goal and two assists in the third period to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Paul Gaustad and Shea Weber each added a goal and an assist for the Preds, with Gaustad also having a fight for the elusive Gordie Howe hat trick. Pekka Rinne faced only 18 shots in beating his former understudy Anders Lindback.
Brandon Saad had 3 assists for the Chicago Blackhawks as they scored 4 times in the third period to break a 2-2 deadlock with the Buffalo Sabres. Patrick Kane and Andrew Shaw each had a goal and an assist with Jonathan Toews notching 2 assists as the Hawks fired 47 shots on Jhonas Enroth.
And finally, the Los Angeles Kings took a 2-0 first period lead but Keith Yandle‘s 3 assists keyed an Arizona Coyotes comeback, eventually taking the game 3-2 on Oliver Ekman-Larsson‘s OT winner with just 14 seconds left in the extra frame. Antoine Vermette added a goal and an assist for the Coyotes.
