Sharks win (Getty Images)

No. 1 Star: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

Pavelski was in on all but one Sharks goal in their 5-3 win over the struggling Washington Capitals. He scored the first two, then helped orchestrate the next two for his first 4-point night since a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars last March.

No. 2 Star: Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes

Led by Staal, the Hurricanes snapped the Montreal Canadiens 4-game win streak with a 5-3 victory. The Hurricanes actually entered the third period down a goal, but the Carolina captain took over in the final twenty, scoring a dazzling shorthanded goal to tie the game, picking up an assist on the game-winner and icing the win with an empty-netter. Here's the shorty:

No. 3 Star: Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

Joe Thornton had 3 assists for the Sharks, two of them coming on the third period goals that put the game out of reach for the Capitals.

Honourable Mention: Jaroslav Spacek scored a goal versus the Canadiens, the team that traded him away earlier this season.

It's been a tough year for the Washington Capitals. Picked by many to come out of the Eastern Conference and picked by everyone to win the Southeast Division, the Capitals have instead struggled through a season of turmoil that has both predictions -- seriously, both of them -- hanging in the balance.

What's been the problem? Everything really, from the struggles of their superstars to some genuinely rotten luck. Here's a healthy dose of the latter, as Braden Holtby juggles a Dan Boyle shot from behind the red line and allows it to drop behind him for the game's first goal.

This is pretty much a metaphor for the Capitals entire season.

Now, it's not as bad as it looks. Joe Pavelski actually manages to change this puck's course as it comes across the blue line, and it skips once on its way to Holtby. But that's little consolation considering that, you know, there's no traffic anywhere in sight, he can see it, and the Washington Capitals simply aren't a team that can overcome crap like

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What is certain about the trade deadline is that the Columbus Blue Jackets will be open for business. The uncertainty is in the magnitude of their moves: Impending free agents, like Sammy Paulsson? Cancerous mistakes like Jeff Carter?

Or captain, star and face of the franchise Rick Nash …

Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported on Monday that an NHL general manager confirmed to him Nash is in play and has been offered around to some teams -- news that was confirmed by a second source.

This comes one week after John Shannon of Sportsnet reported:

I have received a couple of calls from friends of Nash, who claim that Rick is very unhappy with the way the franchise is going and realizes it will take five more years to rebuild, again. Nash is now telling people close to him that he would entertain being moved, but still will not be the one who asks for a trade.

Always one who didn't aspire to play in a big market with big pressure, it appears Nash now realizes that he might have to step into the spotlight in order to win. It is a very tough situation for a very classy player.

Columbus GM Scott Howson declined comment to Shannon ("John, I am not commenting on any rumours between now and deadline."); he did the same on Monday night when Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch asked for comment on the RDS report.

If Nash is available, and amenable to being traded to a large market, could the New York Rangers be the destination?

Zac Rinaldo will be sitting out a couple games, as Brendan Shanahan has unleashed the Shanaban-hammer and knocked the Philadelphia Flyers' forward into next week.

Rinaldo received a 2-game suspension for his high hit on Detroit Red Wings' blueliner Jonathan Ericsson Sunday, a behind-the-net check that, while not to the head, featured Rinaldo's best vertical jump since the NHL draft combine. Here's Shanahan with what happens when you launch yourself a good half-foot off the ice while making a hit:

For the clicking impaired, here's your money quote:

"Although Ericsson should have been more aware and prepared to face an oncoming check after reversing the puck, that still doesn't allow Rinaldo to launch himself to deliver such a high hit. By doing so, Rinaldo turned what might have been a hard, legal bodycheck into an illegal charge."

In short: "HEY. DON'T JUMP."

Here are your Puck Previews: Spotlighting the key games in NHL action, news and views as well as general frivolity. Make sure to stop back here for the nightly Three Stars when the games are finished.

Chris Campoli side kicks David Steckel in the chest

Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m. ET

This will be Jaroslav Spacek's first return to Montreal since he was traded for Tomas Kaberle earlier this season. That's... interesting... Hey! Remember when the Catholic Church took out an ad urging Montrealers to pray for their team? The Habs are undefeated since then and Scott Gomez has scored. The unbeaten streak predates the prayer, mind you -- the Canadiens have won 4 straight, outscoring opponents 15-4 over that stretch. They're rolling.

Preview: San Jose Sharks at Washington Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET

After clawing their way back into contention in the Southeast (which may not be challenging enough for the verb clawing", but I digress), the Capitals have fallen off, going 3-4-3 in their last 10. They'll be in tough to turn things around versus the Sharks, who have taken 15 of the last 16 contests between the two clubs. On the plus side, the Capitals may be getting Tomas Vokoun back, and his record versus San Jose is much better: he's 10-1-1 with a 2.29 GAA in his last 12.

The Phoenix Coyotes recently announced plans to stage "Coop's Troops Night" on Saturday, February 18, a unique special event that combines the honoring of United Stated service members and the creepiness of rock legend Alice Cooper. Cooper will be in attendance for the festivities, and the first 10,000 fans entering Jobing.com Arena will receive an Alice Cooper bobble head.

Suffice it to say, an Alice Cooper bobble head sounded amazing. But we had no idea exactly how amazing until the Coyotes were kind enough to send us a photo.

Alice Cooper bobblehead will try to kill you in your sleep

Why yes, he is wearing diamond-studded heels and a Coyotes jersey. Amazingly, he didn't have the snake when he left the factory and no one knows where it came from.

This is awesome and I want several, but can you imagine having this thing in your house, knowing this terrifying trinket is watching you while you sit alone at night?

You turn around. His head is bobbing spontaneously. Suddenly, it stops. You look away. The next time you turn back, the podium is empty. You look to your left. He's on the sofa next to you. And oh god where did the snake go?

The Alice Cooper bobble head is a must-have for anybody who collects items that will no doubt try to kill them.

138715190An eight-game winless streak has sent the Chicago Blackhawks spiraling down the Western Conference standings all the way to sixth place, when just two weeks ago they were … in sixth place.

Granted, they were tied with the Nashville Predators with 64 points and trailing the Detroit Red Wings by three points on Jan. 30; now, they're 13 behind the Red Wings and five behind the Preds.

The big headline on Monday was that despite their plummeting fortunes, Coach Joel Quenneville was given a vote of confidence by GM Stan Bowman. "That's not the concern for me at all. I'm very confident in Joel's ability, our coaching staff's ability," he told CSN Chicago in an interview.

The players, to a man, also had Coach Q's back. "He's our leader, he's our coach, we play hard for him and we believe in him," Patrick Sharp told the Chicago Tribune. "I know that if something would happen, there would be a lot of unhappy people in the room right now, as far as players putting that on themselves."

So who pays the price if the Blackhawks continue to lose, if not the coach? How about the goaltenders, as Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have taken turns portraying a sieve for the last two weeks?

Nope, they're cool too, said Bowman.

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• We've seen this photo a few times, and it simply can't be ignored any longer: Here's Wayne Gretzky, committing to the Indian during his fantasy camp last week. #blasphemy [Gretzky, s/t Scotty Wazz]

• WANT WANT WANT! "Phoenix Coyotes President & Chief Operating Officer Mike Nealy announced today that the Coyotes will honor United States service members on "Coop's Troops Night" on Saturday, February 18 when the Coyotes host the Dallas Stars. The first 10,000 fans entering Jobing.com Arena that night will receive an Alice Cooper bobble head. Alice Cooper will be in attendance and will participate in the ceremonial pre-game puck drop." [Coyotes]

• Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman gives Coach Joel Quenneville the kiss of death, er, public vote of confidence. [ESPN Chicago]

• Some discouraging news from Chris Botta for New York Islanders fans: "Wang does not want to leave Nassau County, and staying put remains his first choice. But when I asked top executives to confirm that Wang will only consider overtures from municipalities within the New York metropolitan area, I could not get a promise on or off the record." [NYI Point Blank]

• Mike Knuble on the Washington Capitals making him a healthy scratch: "It sucks." [WJLA]

• Mikael Backlund is expected to miss 4-6 weeks for the Calgary Flames. Welcome to the center spot, Mike Cammalleri. [Flames]

• Awesome: The University of Nebraska at Omaha will play an outdoor hockey game at TD Ameritrade Park next season, probably against North Dakota. [Omaha.com]

• Moving tribune song to the memory of Rick Rypien. [Canucks Army]

• Why the trade deadline might be a trade DUD-line this year. (See what we did there?) [Red Light District]

• Why Seattle deserves its moment: "If it isn't next year, if it's not for three, keep this city in mind. When the time does come for an NHL club to relocate, take a hard look at Seattle, take a good look at Seattle — and realize it's an option that deserves a chance over Canada." [View From My Seats]

• Drew Magary on why the Stanley Cup is the greatest of all sports trophies: "So iconic, it's not even close. It's presented to you by men wearing white debutante gloves. It has your name engraved on it. And best of all, it's a cup. All trophies should be cups. People have gotten drunk out of the Stanley Cup. They've eaten out of it. They've shat in it. They've fed horses out of it. The Cup has had a richer, fuller life than you ever will." [GQ]