The Detroit Red Wings (4-2-0) invade Columbus (4-1-0) at home, in hopes of beating the Blue Jackets for the first time this year, and keeping a win streak going.
In the first period, both teams started off early. Artem Anisimov (1), the former Ranger traded for Rick Nash, opened the scoring with a wrist shot right out of the slot that beat Howard, 1-0 Columbus. It wouldn’t last, as three minutes later into the frame, Alternate Captain Niklas Kronwall (1) cranked a slap shot from just inside the blue line that would get past starting goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky. After twenty minutes of play, the game would be tied 1-1.
The tie would hold true through most of the second period, with both goaltenders doing their share of the load. Howard would face 27 shots through two periods, while Bobrovsky faced 30. However, with just over two minutes remaining in the second period, Cory Emmerton (1) broke the tie with his first goal of the year. 2-1 DET.
Detroit would keep pouring it on, as the red hot Danny Cleary (3) put in yet another goal, this one from a very sharp angle along the far boards with 8 minutes left to play. That would be it for the scoring, as the Wings keep up with a big division win, while finally bringing Columbus back down to earth.
DET 3 – 1 CBJ
Notes: DET D Kyle Quincey will be out for 3-4 weeks with a broken bone in his foot. He will be replaced by Jakub Kindl, and the team will not call up anyone from the Griffins, as they are depleted with blueline injuries to Doug Janik and Travis Ehrhardt.
New York (3-1-1) @ Tampa Bay (1-3-0)
The Lightning’s woes continue, as the Rangers continue to dominate. NYR 4 – 1 TBL
Vancouver (3-3-1) @ Pittsburgh (4-2-0)
Pittsburghs up and down year continues, same as the with the Canucks, but Fluery shutsout Vancouver. PIT 3 – 0 VAN
Carolina (2-4-0) @ Boston (5-0-1)
Carolina tries to keep the Bruins down, but they fall just short. BOS 2 – 1 CAR
Washington (5-2-0) @ Winnipeg (3-2-0)
The Jets shock the high powered Caps, shut them out. WIN 2 – 0 WSH
Chicago (3-2-0) @ St. Louis (3-2-0)
In a central division bout, the Blues wipe the floor with the Blackhawks in St. Louis. STL 4 – 1 CHI
Nashville (3-3-1) @ Los Angeles (5-1-0)
Nashville faces the former cup champions, put up a good fight too. Quick wins again. LAK 4 – 3 NSH
Dallas (3-2-1) @ Ottawa (4-0-2)
The Stars were on an incredible roll, but they just can’t keep up the momentum, as the Senators, who have a point in every game, win. OTT 5 – 3 DAL
Montreal (0-4-2) @ Minnesota (2-3-0)
Montreal just can’t win, even with Don Cherry’s endorsement. They fall to the Wild in overtime. MIN 3 – 2 MON OT