Friday’s Three Stars: Blackhawks lose seventh straight; Wings win nineteenth straight at home
No. 1 Star: Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
It was a 3-point night for Burns versus the Chicago Blackhawks. He assisted on the Sharks' opening goal, then helped break a 3-3 tie by setting up two more tallies in the third period. Burns added a team-high four shots on goal as the Sharks handed the Blackhawks their 7th straight loss in the 5-3 win.
No. 2 Star: Joey MacDonald, Detroit Red Wings
No Howard? No problem. Joey MacDonald stepped up in a big way, making 29 saves to keep the hungry Anaheim Ducks at bay. He stopped 2 of 3 in the shootout as well, and the Red Wings won their 19th straight home game of the year, 2-1. They're one home win away from the NHL record.
No. 3 Star: Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche
O'Reilly was the story in the Avalanche's 4-3 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes, a win that stretched their home unbeaten streak versus the Carolina franchise to 10 games. He was all over the ice, with six shots and numerous scoring chances, but couldn't seem to finish. Then, with less than two seconds to go in overtime, he poked a puck free, dashed across the blueline, and beat Cam Ward with a slapper:
Honourable mention: Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche... Benn Ferriero picked up the game-winning goal in San Jose. It was only his 7th goal of the season, but it was his fourth game-winner. He just reeks of clutchiness.... Thomas Vanek scored his 20th goal of the season in the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 shootout victory over the Dallas Stars. He would have had his 21st, too, but Kari Lehtonen made the play of the night, an unreal kick save:
Sadly, it was all for naught, as overtime expired seconds afterward and Nathan Gerbe scored the shootout winner for Buffalo.
Did you know? The NHL fined Tampa Bay Lightning forward Dominic Moore $2,500 for his hit on Ruslan Fedotenko of the New York Islanders.
Dishonourable mention: Friday morning, we pegged George Parros's 84-game goalless streak as the new goal drought to obsess over -- he scored Friday night. Thanks for nothing, man... Trailing by a goal with under 10 minutes to go, Andrew Shaw put the Blackhawks' down a man when he hit Douglas Murray in the head. Jamie McGinn scored this sick goal while he was in the box:
