Patrick Kane’s consecutive goals proved to be the difference-makers as Chicago broke a 3-3 tie and downed San Jose 5-3 last night in the game of the night. Each team scored three times in a wild first period but the defenses restored order after that and Kane was the only player to score in the final 40 minutes of the game.
Johnathan Toews and Brent Seabrook each had a pair of assists in the win for Chicago while Michal Handzus had a goal and an assist in the loss.
Let’s take a look at the rest of a busy ten-game Thursday on the ice.
New Jersey knocked off the Rangers 3-1 behind Martin Brodeur and his 24-save effort. Brodeur bounced back after allowing five goals in each of his last two starts. David Clarkson scored twice and Patrick Elias chipped in three assists.
The Penguins beat the Islanders 4-2 so neither New York team posted a win last night. The Penguins jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Islanders scored twice in a 35-second span of the third period to make it a close game. James Neal scored on the power play for Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby got hit in the face with a puck but didn’t get a broken nose. Pittsburgh has won four in a row while the Islanders’ power play is 0-for-14 in its last two games.
Toronto edged Washington 3-2 thanks to a pair of James van Riemsdyk goals. Phil Kessel picked up two assists for the Leafs (5-5-0) but still has yet to score this season in ten games. Washington sits at the bottom of the league at 2-7-1 and needs an immediate jump start to avoid a miserable season. Alex Ovechkin picked up an assist in the loss but has just four points on the season and only one goal.
The Kings doubled up Columbus 4-2 to get to the break-even point at 3-3-2. The Kings scored three times in the first 10 minutes of the second period for the win. Justin Williams had three assists while Mike Richards scored his first goal of the season as an insurance marker in the third. Columbus fell to 3-6-1 and sits just one point ahead of Calgary for the bottom spot in the Western Conference.
Ottawa bumped off Buffalo 4-3 to send the Sabres to a third straight loss. Jhonas Enroth got the start in goal for Buffalo but the Sabres allowed four goals for the fifth game in a row. Ottawa built a 3-1 lead in the first 14 minutes and was able to hold off Buffalo (3-6-1) as they came to within a goal with 6:05 to play when Jason Pominville scored his sixth of the season. Thomas Vanek didn’t notch a point for the first time in nine games.
Tom Sestito had both goals for the Flyers as they knocked off Tampa Bay 2-1. Those were his first goals in three years and Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 21 shots to shut down the league’s top offense. Steven Stamkos was held without a point for the first time this season. Benoit Pouliot scored the lone goal for the Lightning (6-3-0), losers of two straight.
Calgary dumped Detroit 4-1 but may have lost goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff for an extended period of time. He left the game after the second period with a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated today. Leland Irving filled in for the Kipper in the third period and stopped all six shots he saw. Irving will quickly become a hot commodity on the waiver wire if Kipprusoff is out for any lengthy period of time.
Jarome Iginla scored his first goal of the season for the Flames and Mark Giordano scored on a third-period power play to ice the game.
Winnipeg posted a 3-2 win over the Panthers in overtime. Bryan Little scored with 16 seconds left in overtime for the game-winning goal. Zach Redmond on the tying and game-winning goals for Winnipeg as the Jets broke a three-game skid with the win.
Nashville blew away St. Louis 6-1 as the Predators led 3-0 after a period and 5-0 midway through the second. Martin Erat had a goal and two assists while Colin Wilson added three assists in the win. Alex Pieterangelo’s second-period power play was the only thing that got by Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne. Nashville finished a 7-game road trip 4-2-1. Brian Elliott took the loss for the Blues.
Multiple Goal Scorers
Clarkson-NJ, van Riemsdyk-TOR, Sestito-PHI, Kane-CHI
Stat of the Night
One of the bigger reasons why Chicago and San Jose are so successful is the penalty kill. The Sharks have killed off 31 penalties in a row while Chicago has stopped 37-of-39 power plays this year.
Three Stars of the Night
1. Sestito Rare goals led the Flyers to a win.
2. Brodeur Rebounded nicely after getting lit up in his last two outings.
3. Little Better late than never to end a losing streak.
Wednesday’s Schedule (all times ET)
Boston at Montreal 730pm Two of the Eastern Conference’s elite go head-to-head.
Anaheim at Colorado 930pm How will the Ducks fare in their first game since dealing the Sharks’ their first loss?
Dallas at Edmonton 930pm Cowboy hats. Lots of cowboy hats with the fan bases of these two teams.
