NHL Scores (10-19)

Toronto Maple Leafs (4) @ Winnipeg Jets (5) (OT)

Detroit Red Wings (2) @ New York Rangers (1)

Game of the Night

         Last night featured a highly anticipated game between 1^st overall pick Auston Matthews and 2^nd overall pick Patrik Laine. The Maple Leafs were in Winnipeg facing off against the Jets in what turned out to be a very exciting finish to the game.

         Toronto entered the 2^nd half of the game up 4-0. A few minutes earlier, they had scored 2 goals in just 8 seconds. At the time, the Jets and their fans were virtually lifeless. Many expected the Maple Leafs to cruise to an easy victory, but the Jets had other plans. When Tyler Myers finally put Winnipeg on the scoreboard at 13:04 of the 2^nd period, it became clear the Jets weren’t done with the Leafs.

         Though down 4-1 entering the 3^rd, there was some life in the building and a newfound confidence the Jets hoped to build off of. Patrik Laine began to chip away at Toronto’s chances of winning when he spun around and scored a minute into the period. 5 minutes later, Mark Scheifele scored to pull to within 1 goal. By now, the result had become much more uncertain.

         With time running out, Winnipeg put all their cards on the table in the final minute. An untimely penalty by Toronto gave the Jets a 6-on-4 advantage in the offensive zone. Right off the faceoff, Nikolaj Ehlers faked a point shot and fed Laine for a one-timer from the left circle. Laine easily blasted the puck into the wide open net to tie the game.

         Midway through the overtime period, Auston Matthews had a chance to win the game on a breakaway. He tried to go five-hole on Huchinson, but the opening he had was quickly closed. After quickly cleaning up the rebound, Dustin Byfuglien spotted Laine skating speedily down the side boards. After being fed for a 2-on-1 chance, Laine did what the whole building was expecting: he shot the puck.

         His shoot first mentality served him well, as he made no mistake in picking a spot and burying the puck in the back of the net. Laine had completed an overtime hat trick in comeback fashion. Not only did Winnipeg win the game, but the fans were brought to their feet by the comeback kid’s heroics. It was the first time in Thrashers/Jets franchise history that the team came back from a 4-goal deficit to win.

Player of the Night (Patrik Laine)

NHL Scores (10-18)

Colorado Avalanche (0) @ Washington Capitals (3)

Anaheim Ducks (1) @ New Jersey Devils (2)

San Jose Sharks (3) @ New York Islanders (2)

Pittsburgh Penguins (0) @ Montreal Canadiens (4)

Florida Panthers (3) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (4) (SO)

Arizona Coyotes (4) @ Ottawa Senators (7)

Dallas Stars (2) @ Nashville Predators (1)

Los Angeles Kings (3) @ Minnesota Wild (6)

Philadelphia Flyers (4) @ Chicago Blackhawks (7)

Buffalo Sabres (3) @ Calgary Flames (4) (OT)

Carolina Hurricanes (2) @ Edmonton Oilers (3)

St. Louis Blues (1) @ Vancouver Canucks (2) (OT)

Game of the Night

         Last night, the Florida Panthers faced their upstate rival Tampa Bay Lightning. Considering how exciting these teams are and how closely matched their games often are, it’s not much of a surprise this was game of the night.

         It was a back and forth battle between 2 very good teams who both intend to finish on top of their division at season’s end. The real excitement didn’t actually begin until the 2^nd period. That’s when the scoring started. Though Florida’s Colton Sceviour scored the opening goal shorthanded 2:38 into the 2^nd, it was the Lightning who emerged from the period with a slim 2-1 lead.

         Entering the final minute, however, the Lightning once again found themselves on the wrong side of things. They trailed 3-2 with the goalie pulled as they attempted one final time to tie the game. And then, it happened. Steven Stamkos slammed a one timer past James Reimer at the side of the net to tie the game with 6 seconds left. The margin between victory and defeat was so slim that a controversial shootout session was needed to ultimately decide the game.

         No one scored in the shootout until the 3^rd round, when Johnathan Drouin snapped a shot into the goal for his first career shootout goal. Next in line for Florida was Vincent Trocheck. It appeared his goal would not count because he touched the puck a second time. However, it was determined that he simply regained control of the puck before he took any shot, so the goal actually did count.

         After 2 more scoreless rounds, rookie Brayden Point became the unlikely hero when he scored on his first career shootout attempt. His goal held up as the game-winner, as Aaron Ekblad was stopped by Bishop to preserve a Tampa win that was very nearly taken away from them on a questionable call.

         After the game, in a brief interview, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman mentioned that both teams had already moved on from the controversy and began to look ahead. Nobody dwelled on it, for it was what it was, and nobody could go back and change it. I see that as a very good life lesson. You can’t plan for the future if you look too much into the past.

Play of the Night

NHL 3 Stars of the Week (10/12-10/17)

Week #1

         Yesterday, the NHL named its 3 stars from this season’s first week of action. First star Connor McDavid (EDM) had 3 points in each of his first 2 games this season. The new Oilers captain is already showing the hockey world what he and his team may be capable of. Second star Auston Matthews (TOR), the 1^st overall draft pick of 2016, became the first ever player to score 4 goals in his NHL debut. Third star Roberto Luongo (FLA) earned a 2-0-0 record with a goals-against average of 0.98 and a save percentage of .957. He stopped all but 2 of 46 total shots faced.