Your daily shot of hockey to go with your coffee
Tuesday, March 11th, 2014

LAST NIGHT’S SCORES:

Here are yesterday’s picks in case you missed them. Asterisk indicates who I picked.

Penguins* down Capitals 3-2: Ovechkin was a non-factor while Crosby had a part in all three goals (1G, 2A). The Penguins had a 2-1 lead only 3:52 into the game. The Penguins defense shut down the Capitals’ power play as Washington went 1 for 4 and backup goalie Jeff Zatkoff stopped 31 of 33 Caps shots. Pittsburgh now leads the season series 3-0.

Predators drop Senators 4-3 in OT: The first period was scoreless, the second period was all Preds, and the third period was all Sens. Overtime, was all Seth Jones. The Predators definitely got a huge break when Jones fell to fourth in last year’s draft. He won’t be the Rookie of the Year the way Nathan MacKinnon has playing but he is the future for Nashville.

Coyotes edge Lightning 4-3 in SO: This back-and-forth game was led by Ondrej Palat who had 2 goals and an assist. The Lightning fired 31 shots at Phoenix’s Mike Smith and stopped 28 of those shots and the three shootout attempts from Tampa Bay.

Kings hold off Flames 3-2: LA got up to a 3-0 lead early in the third period. However, Calgary outshot LA 12-4 in the third as the Flames scored two goals. LA ultimately held off the Flames’ rally and won 3-2. LA was led by Anze Kopitar who had a goal and an assist.

Avs edge Jets 3-2 in OT: Dustin Byfuglien had two goals for Winnipeg but Matt Duchene had the last laugh in OT for his 21st goal of the season. The Avalanche and Jets combined for 69 shots with only three of them coming in overtime. Colorado will need to work on the fact that they went 0 for 6 on the power play last night.

Islanders explode over Canucks 7-4: They explosion came all in the third period. Vancouver had a 3-0 lead through two periods and it seemed like they were coming out of the tailspin they’ve been in since the brawl. Well that quickly changed. Seven different scorers with 13 different players getting at least one point. NYI is young, they’ll just need Tavares back and a great goaltender to become a contender.

Maple Leafs upset Ducks* at home, 3-1: Tyler Bozak is on a tear. Since Sochi, he has 8 points in 6 games including three multi-point games. Bozak and Phil Kessel both had a goal and two assists while Corey Perry scored his 5th goal in as many games since the break. I did not see that upset happening though.

A scary moment in Dallas last night as the Stars’ Rich Peverley passed out on the bench. The game has been postponed to a later date. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peverley, his family, and the Dallas Stars. When Peverley awakened, the first thing he said to coach Lindy Ruf: “How much time is left in the first?” Talk about a true competitor.

1-1 last night. 81-68 on the season.

GAMES TONIGHT:

Nine games around the league tonight. The Flyers and Devils face off in Philadelphia tonight, both myself and Iceman will have coverage of this game as part of our Flyers and Devils sections (still need to think of a name for it). Three other games to keep an eye out for are: Red Wings at Blue Jackets @ 7, Capitals at Penguins @ 7, and Maple Leafs at Sharks @ 10:30. Blue Jackets over Red Wings: Columbus is battling for a playoff spot in both the Metropolitan and in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race as well. They currently hold the tie breaker over the Wings (more wins, the NHL really needs the International point system) and are great at home. Penguins sweep Caps: Washington’s only chance to have a win over the Penguins this season was at home. The fact that Fluery had last night off only spells more disaster for Washington. Sharks over Leafs: CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP! Pulling back-to-back wins in Anaheim AND San Jose is pulling a big rabbit out of a hat. CHOMP!