Early goals were trendy across the NHL on Tuesday. Four out of the nine games played last evening featured scores within the first two minutes, causing quick trouble for teams placed in early holes.
NHL Scores 2015: Early goals dominate a strong night of hockey across the league
Bad night for goaltenders, but good for those who want to see more scoring in the NHL.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
To the credit of three of the four teams -- the Flyers, Maple Leafs and Red Wings -- they managed to fight their way out and force shootouts, in which two of the three promptly lost to their quick-drawing opponents. Calgary, the remaining team of the four, traded goals with San Jose before pulling away by two in the second period of their 4-2 win.
The Flyers found themselves in trouble first, taking a Frans Nielsen goal just 55 seconds into the game because of a combination of so-so goaltending and horrible defense. Welcome back to the NHL, Andrew MacDonald!
Philadelphia was able to muster up a comeback each time the Islanders pulled away, but ultimately fell in the shootout on some really unfair moves from Kyle Okposo.
The Red Wings also tempted fate with some bad defense, turning over the puck to the Capitals before Justin Williams found a rebound sitting out in open ice 43 seconds into their game. Detroit responded to the goal late in the first, then added one more early in the second. However, the lethal Capitals offense found the back of the net again in the third period to tie the game at 2-2, then two goals in the shootout left the visiting Red Wings with a bad taste in their mouths.
A Roman Polak cross-checking penalty 39 seconds into the opening frame set the Maple Leafs down a man, and the Devils pounced on the early opportunity. A good cycle set up a John Moore shot and a Lee Stempniak deflection past goaltender Garret Sparks put the Devils up. Toronto was able to come back and lead, but a second period power play goal from Kyle Palmieri forced the two teams to play extra hockey.
Nazem Kadri was the shootout hero for the Maple Leafs, making more than a handful of moves on Cory Schneider for the game winner.
Talk about a busy night in the hockey world.
Scores
New York Islanders 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2 (OT)
Washington Capitals 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, New Jersey Devils 2 (SO)
3 things we learned
1. Rookies don't have to score to make an impact
First, we had Dylan Larkin pulling off a brilliantly timed pass that went between the legs of a defender and straight onto the awaiting stick of Henrik Zetterberg for an easy tap-in goal. Larkin showed no fear and a lot of poise for a 19-year-old on a thread-the-needle pass.
Zetterberg goal pic.twitter.com/KX3n7yla8P
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 9, 2015 Then we had 23-year-old defenseman John Klingberg fooling multiple Hurricanes on a zone exit that eventually led to a goal by Patrick Eaves. Klingberg's secondary assist doesn't indicate how instrumental he actually was on the play, nor how silly he made Carolina's forecheckers look.
Klingberg pass to Seguin that lead to Eaves goal pic.twitter.com/pgnbDCyzSO
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 9, 2015 2. A four-goal lead is the new two-goal lead
Dallas was coasting to an easy 5-1 victory over Carolina heading into the third period until the Hurricanes flipped the game on the sleeping Stars for four straight goals. Kari Lehtonen was yanked for his poor effort after Jeff Skinner's tying goal with just under seven minutes left to play.
All four netminders who dressed for the game appeared -- Carolina's Cam Ward didn't make it out of the first intermission after allowing four goals in the first 20 minutes. Patrick Sharp sent in the game-winner with 18 seconds left to play in the game on a power play, pulling the rug out from under a hopeful Hurricanes squad once and for all.
3. Shootouts remain strange in a post 3-on-3 OT world
One third of the NHL's slate of games Tuesday went to shootout, something hockey fans hardly ever see with the new 3-on-3 overtime format. What used to be a common occurrence now feels quite rare, thanks to the fast paced, quick scoring that open-ice overtime brings. The shootouts do produce some gems, such as Okposo's deke on Neuvirth, though now they are stale, overshadowed by the novelty of 3-on-3. One thing remains the same, however: The shootout is still the least effective way to decide a hockey game.
Impact Moment
After Sergei Bobrovsky got hurt late in the third period, the Kings took advantage of his lesser backup with an overtime goal from Alec Martinez.
Martinez OT winner pic.twitter.com/RAaQtKTr4w
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 9, 2015 Stat of the Night
Patrick Kane extended his point streak to 23 games on his 600th career point.
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