Monday’s Three Stars: Staal leads Hurricanes; Pavelski’s four-point night
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. David Desharnais had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens in the loss... Roberto Luongo made 23 saves, David Booth scored and Ryan Kesler scored in the shootout as the Canucks topped the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1...
Did you know? 5 of the Canucks' 6 games in February have gone to shootouts.
Dishonourable mention: Braden Holtby let in an ugly goal to let the Sharks open the scoring... Eric Staal's hit on Tomas Plekanec will probably get a look from the Department of Player safety. Will it earn supplemental discipline?
Additional dishonourable mention to Mike Milbury for everything he says during that clip.
