Helsinki 6, Prague 3 – Jack Johnson scored his first two goals of the season as part of an uncharacteristic offensive showing by the Jokerit Monday. Both of Johnson’s goals came while Helsinki had a man advantage and the PP unit scored 3 goals in 4 chances. Thomas Vanek of Helsinki led all scorers with 3 points, all of them assists. Prague had a lot of trouble getting going in Finland and they were out-shot 39-15 in the game. The game also featured a fight between Steve Downie of the Jokerit and Robin Grossman, a defenseman playing in his second-ever game for the Wolf Pack. The win gives Helsinki a home record of 8-2-1 and the team is in third place in the Northern Conference behind Belfast and Moscow.
Paris 6, Milan 1 – Ten Rouge Eiffel players had points in a game that Paris controlled all the way through and the win improved their home record to 12-0. The home team had a 6-0 lead before Nick Danielsson scored in the middle of the third period to keep Tuukka Rask from getting a shutout. Justin Williams and Kyle Turris played well together for Paris and each ended with 3-point games. Russian forwards Alexander Semin and Evgeny Malkin had 2 points apiece. Milan’s most active player was Italian Luca Sbisa, who had 7 hits and 3 blocked shots but was minus 3 on the night.
Belfast 4, Oslo 2 – Belfast had more trouble after the game when they learned of injuries to two forwards than they did during their win on home ice. The Giants are the most penalized team in the EURO League and they spent almost 12 minutes of the third period shorthanded, but the Outlaws couldn’t erase any of the 4-2 deficit they faced as the period began. Belfast was led by James Neal (1 goal and 7 shots), Sidney Crosby (1 goal and 1 assist) and Alexander Ovechkin (2 assists). Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist for Oslo. Belfast’s Vladimir Tarasenko and Matt Duchene will both miss time in the Belfast lineup after it was revealed in the post-game interview they sustained minor injuries. They will join teammate Nathan MacKinnon who was already on the injury list.
Copenhagen 3, Munich 2 – Copenhagen’s powerplay was dismal in going 0 for 9, but Stephen Weiss and crew did enough elsewhere to get the Tridents the win in Bavaria. It was the second time in less than a week that Copenhagen defeated Munich. Weiss assisted on a Clarke MacArthur goal that opened the scoring, and in the second, Weiss scored his 8th of the season to make it 3-0. Tim Thomas stopped 20 of 22 Munich shots to earn the win. The Dire Wolf’s best player was Braydon Colburn who scored a goal, blocked 3 shots and had 6 hits. Goalie Cory Schneider might have to take a rest after starting his 7th straight game for Munich.
Gothenburg 5, Moscow 4 (OT) – Eric Staal had four points and Jordan Eberle had 3 for the Devils against visiting Moscow, but Dan Girardi was the hero. The defenseman had 5 hits and four blocked shots, but more importantly, he scored the game-winning goal overtime after taking a D-to-D pass from teammate Marc-Eduoard Vlasic. Girardi’s slapshot goal with 2:18 remaining was his 4th of the season. Moscow’s top defense pairing was great. Ryan Suter and Duncan Keith each had a goal and an assist and they combined on 6 shots and 14 hits. It was Gothenburg’s third consecutive win and their 4th in the last 5 games. Moscow will play the other Russian team Tuesday in St. Petersburg. The two teams have met twice already this season and each has won a game.
Lisbon 4, Bern 1 – The Bears didn’t seem to stand a chance in Portugal Monday as Lisbon out-shot them 42-18. John Tavares had a point on every Lisbon goal and linemates Steven Stamkos and Alex Steen each had a goal and an assist. Tavares is now in the individual scoring race, a point ahead of Belfast’s Sidney Crosby, 2 points up on Paris center Evgeny Malkin and 3 points ahead of Athens’ Ryan O’Reilly. Goalie German goalie Thomas Greiss made 38 saves in the Bears net.
