12/14
New Jersey (14-13-1) @ Tampa Bay (10-17-0)
NJD 5 – 3 TBL
New York Islanders (16-12-2) @ Winnipeg (17-11-0)
NYI 3 – 2 WPG
Calgary (16-9-3) @ St. Louis (10-16-2)
CGY 5 – 1 STL
Edmonton (9-14-6) @ Minnesota (13-13-4)
EDM 3 – 1 MIN
Notes: EDM C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be out 2-3 months with a broken leg.
12/15
Detroit (20-8-1) @ Nashville (16-11-3)
Detroit looks to continue their dominance against a Nashville team, that while starting hot has started to fizzle.
It wouldn’t take long either, as in the first period, Henrik Zetterberg (15) added to his team leading goal total at 4:56 (A: Nyquist, Colaiacovo). However the first period was rocky for everyone, as Mike Fisher (5) would score at 11:05 (A: Erat). Niklas Kronwall (7) would take the lead once more on the Powerplay for the Wings at 15:06 (A: Datsyuk, Bertuzzi). But it would go into intermission tied, as with 8 second left, David Legwand (9) would beat Jimmy Howard unassisted.
In the second, it would take almost the entire period for Valtteri Filppula (13) to score on Rinne, to give the Wings a 3-2 lead (A: White).
In the third, Scott Hannhan (1) would tie it up to keep it a tight affair at 6:12 (A: Halischuk, Yip). But in the last minute of play, with 31 seconds left, Danny Cleary (10) would give the Wings the final lead they would need (A: Colaiacovo). Gustav Nyquist would ice it with an empty netter at 19:44 (A: Zetterberg).
DET 5 – 3 NSH
Three Stars:
- Det C Henrik Zetterberg – 1 G, 1 A, 2 S
- Det LW Gustav Nyquist – 1 G, 1 A, 1 S
- Det RW Danny Cleary – 1 G, 2 H, 3 S
Notes: NSH RW Patric Hornqvist will be out 2-3 weeks with a mild concussion.
Carolina (12-14-6) @ Philadelphia (14-13-3)
PHI 3 – 2 CAR OT
Florida (17-10-2) @ Boston (15-12-4)
FLA 3 – 0 BOS
Notes: BOS D Sami Salo will be out 3 months with a concussion.
Montreal (11-17-3) @ Buffalo (20-7-2)
BUF 5 – 2 MTL
Tampa Bay (10-17-0) @ Washington (15-14-2)
TBL 2 – 1 WSH OT
Pittsburgh (17-15-0) @ Winnipeg (17-11-0)
WPG 4 – 3 PIT
Phoenix (11-13-3) @ Columbus (14-11-4)
Notes: PIT G Marc-Andre Fleury will be out 3-4 weeks with a sprained knee.
CBJ 4 – 0 PHX
Toronto (14-9-5) @ Vancouver (13-13-4)
TOR 3 – 1 VAN
Chicago (16-11-3) @ St. Louis (10-16-2)
CHI 4 – 2 STL
Dallas (17-12-2) @ San Jose (13-13-3)
SJS 4 – 3 DAL
Notes: DAL RW Jaromir Jagr will be out 2 weeks with a sore shoulder.
Edmonton (9-14-6) @ Colorado (13-13-3)
COL 2 – 1 EDM OT
New York Islanders (16-12-2) @ Minnesota (13-13-4)
MIN 3 – 2 NYI
Notes: MIN D Ryan Suter will be out 10 weeks with a concussion.
Los Angeles (22-8-1) @ Ottawa (14-11-4)
LAK 3 – 2 OTT
Notes: LA D Matt Greene out 4-5 weeks with a sprained shoulder.
12/16
Calgary (16-9-3) @ Chicago (16-11-3)
CGY 3 – 2 CHI
Anaheim (18-7-4) @ New York Rangers (15-10-5)
ANA 5 – 4 NYR
12/17
Los Angeles (22-8-1) @ Boston (15-12-4)
LAK 2 – 1 BOS
New Jersey (14-13-1) @ Pittsburgh (17-15-0)
NJD 5 – 2 PIT
Florida (17-10-2) @ Washington (15-14-2)
FLA 4 – 2 WSH
Buffalo (20-7-2) @ Montreal (11-17-3)
BUF 6 – 2 MTL
Notes: BUF LW Steve Ott will be out 2-3 months with a broken shoulder.
Columbus (14-11-4) @ Winnipeg (17-11-0)
WPG 3 – 1 CBJ
12/18
Los Angeles (22-8-2) @ Detroit (21-8-1)
Both teams are looking to continue their near perfect record over the past ten games, the Kings, 8-1-1, and the Wings, 9-0-1, which can move further along the path to this seemingly WCF matchup?
Both teams seemed ready to go, as they exchanged hits in the first 20 seconds, however, Valtteri Filppula (14) potted one with just 0:35 into the game (A: Kronwall, Datsyuk). It would last the entire first period.
In the second, it seemed Detroit may be poised to steamroll the defending champs, with Zetterberg (16) continuing his marvelous streak (A: Bertuzzi, White). Despite numerous powerplay chances, the Wings could not increase the lead. However the first chance on the powerplay, Justin William (8) scored for the Kings to make it 2-1 (A: Hickey, Brown).
In the third, the Kings would not only even it up on the powerplay with Anze Kopita (9) scoring unassisted, but would take the lead on the powerplay with a Kyle Clifford (2) goal (A: Stoll) at 8:23. With time winding down, and no luck on the powerplay or penalty kill, the hero of the night took the form of Gustav Nyquist (5) scoring with only 1:55 left in play (A: Zetterberg, Kronwall). The game would go to overtime.
In the final frame, at 1:46 Ian White got called for hooking. LA had gone 3-3 in powerplay chances thus far, but somehow the Wings squeaked it out despite giving up 7 shots. It looked to be going to a shootout, however Valtteri Filppula (15) scored at 4:58 in the 5:00 overtime to steal the game from the Kings grasp (A: Kronwall).
DET 4 – 3 LAK OT
Three Stars:
- DET LW – Valtteri Filppula – 2G, 0A, 2S
- DET D – Niklas Kronwall – 0G, 3A, 3H
- DET C – Henrik Zetterberg – 1G, 1A, 7S
Notable Mentions: Jimmy Howard had a quiet, yet rough night. Giving up 3 goals on 20 chances. Quick however, gave up 4 goals on 46 chances.
Phoenix (11-14-3) @ St. Louis (11-16-2)
STL 5 – 2 PHX
Tampa Bay (10-18-0) @ Nashville (17-11-3)
NSH 5 – 3 TBL
San Jose (13-14-3) @ Vancouver (14-13-4)
VAN 4 – 2 SJS
Toronto (15-9-5) @ Edmonton (9-15-6)
TOR 4 – 3 EDM
Chicago (17-11-3) @ Minnesota (13-14-4)
CHI 3 – 1 MIN
Anaheim (19-7-4) @ New York Islanders (16-13-2)
ANA 5 – 1 NYI
