NHL 3 Stars: Ryan, Selanne power Ducks; shutouts for everyone, even a guy who lost
It was that kind of night for the Florida Panthers.
No. 1 Star: Bobby Ryan, Anaheim Ducks
In an unexpectedly high-scoring night between the Ducks and the St. Louis Blues (who might prefer to see the Brian Elliott of last season instead of the season before), Bobby Ryan led the way, scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists in a 6-5 shootout win. I love his roof job on this goal:
Teemu Selanne also had a 4-point night with 1 and 3. He now has two 4-point nights this season. I remind you, he's 42.
No. 2 Star: Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Smith was excellent, single-handedly dragging the Coyotes to two points in San Jose. He didn't get any run support, as Antti Niemi posted a shutout at the other end, but Smith's 33-save shutout carried over into the shootout, where no Sharks scored, but Mikkel Boedker and Radim Vrbata did, for a 1-0 victory.
No. 3 Star: James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs
Not that the Leafs really needed it on this night, but Reimer made 37 saves for the shutout in a 6-0 thumping of the Montreal Canadiens. Leo Komarov scored his first NHL goal, Dion Phaneuf finally scored, Korbinian Holzer scored on an assist from Colton Orr for goodness's sake, and Phil Kessel scored his second in as many games, to go with 2 assists.
Honourable mention: The Ottawa Senators might have thought they were catching a break when they drew Montoya rather than Ondrej Pavelec, but they weren't, and Montoya proved it in a big way Saturday. He was unbeatable in the Jets' 1-0 win, making 33 saves for his first shutout. Alexei Ponikarovsky scored the game's lone goal. Ben Bishop made 36 saves in the Senators' loss... Pavel Datsyuk has a goal, an assist, and 13 faceoff wins in 18 tries in the Detroit Red Wings' 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers... Danny Briere, the clutchiest clutch that ever clutched, scored the overtime winner as the Philadelphia Flyers edged the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-3. Watch for his fake backhand pass that fools the Carolina defender as he cuts into the middle:
Brayden Schenn picked up an assist on the winner to go with the 1 and 1 he scored in regulation... Stefan Matteau scored his first NHL goal and Ilya Kovalchuk assisted on two third-period goals as the New Jersey Devils topped the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-1... Troy Brouwer scored twice and Braden Holtby made 27 saves for the shutout in the Washingon Capitals' 5-0 rout of the Florida Panthers... Ryan Miller made 41 saves and Thomas Vanek remained amazing with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 Buffalo Sabres' win over the New York Islanders... Devin Setoguchi's first of the season was the game-winner in the Minnesota Wild's 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators... Jordan Schroeder scored his first NHL goal and then, for giggles, he scored his second as the Vancouver Canucks dealt the Calgary Flames a 5-1 loss.
Did you know? Dan Boyle is the only NHL defenceman to score a goal in the shootout this season.
Dishonourable mention: Weather, which postponed the Boston/Tampa Bay game... Rough night for the Panthers and the Canadiens... Martin Brodeur gives us our blooper of the night as he loses his stick, rushes out to pick it up, then nearly kicks the puck into his goal when the Penguins put an empty-net bid off the post.
Sweet moves, Marty.
Follow Harrison Mooney on Twitter at @HarrisonMooney
