Friday's Three Stars: Tricks are for Alfie, Bourque and Stamkos
No. 1 Star: Daniel Alfredsson(notes), Ottawa Senators
As we predicted in Puck Previews (back=self-patted), Alfredsson hit the 1,000 point mark with a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres, as the Ottawa Senators won a big road game, 4-2. He opened the scoring on the power play in the first, had what was the game-winning goal at even strength in the second and then potted an empty netter to ice it in the third. Erik Karlsson(notes) and Sergei Gonchar(notes) both had two assists on Alfie's hattie.
No. 2 Star: Steven Stamkos(notes), Tampa Bay Lightning
Stamkos had the night's other hat trick, scoring on a one-timer from Vincent Lecavalier(notes) on the power play, on a steal in the second period and then into an empty net during the Lightning's 5-2 trouncing of the Atlanta Thrashers. His eight goals lead the NHL, and he had a 4-point night for the Bolts.
No. 3 Star: Rene Bourque(notes), Calgary Flames
The Flames forward tallied a hat trick in Calgary's 6-2 rout at the Columbus Blue Jackets: Beating Steve Mason(notes) from near the blue line after the Blue Jackets hit the post; a shorthanded goal in the second period on an odd-man rush; and a rebound goal with 5.8 seconds left in the game.
Honorable mention: David Perron(notes) scored twice and Roman Polak's(notes) first of the season on a seeing-eye shot through several players gave the St. Louis Blues a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Patrick Sharp(notes) scored his seventh for the 'Hawks ... Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist to help Cory Schneider(notes) (23 saves) and the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Raffi Torres(notes), Ryan Kesler(notes) and Jeff Tambellini(notes) had the other tallies. Christian Ehrhoff(notes) was a plus-5. ... Tim Connolly(notes) had two goals for the Sabres. ... Brian Elliott(notes) stopped 20 Buffalo shots in the third period to preserve the win for Ottawa. He's 9-0-0 lifetime against Buffalo. ... Finally, Jarome Iginla(notes) dropped the gloves with Derek Dorsett(notes) of the Blue Jackets in a fight that occurred moments after Dorsett scored a goal:
Did you know? IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick dropped the ceremonial first puck in St. Louis, and looked darn good in her Blues jersey (foul):
Dishonorable mention: Chris Mason(notes) was pulled for the Thrashers after giving up three goals on 16 shots. ... Another brutal crowd in Atlanta, this time on a Friday night: 9,138. ... Minus-3 players for the Blue Jackets: Rick Nash(notes), Fedor Tyutin(notes) and Antoine Vermette(notes). ... Minus-3 players for Minnesota: Kyle Brodziak(notes) and Nick Schultz(notes). ... Finally, interesting situation in Buffalo, as Thomas Vanek(notes) hit Jarkko Ruutu(notes) from behind to earn a boarding penalty, yet Ruutu also got a penalty for diving and a gash on his face that sent him to the trainer's room.
