NHL 3 Stars: Similar shutouts for Dubnyk, Rinne, Peters; Sutter caps Pens’ comeback
Ondrej Pavelec wasn't the best goaltender on this night by any stretch, nor did he make the best save, but he took the best photo.
No. 1 Star: Devan Dubnyk, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers were outshot by the Colorado Avalanche 36 to 31, but they weren't outsaved, as Dubnyk stopped every shot he faced for his first shutout in almost a year. Sam Gagner contributed a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win.
No. 2: Brandon Sutter, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins trailed 2-0 for over half the night versus the Boston Bruins, and were still down by that score with seven minutes remaining. But that's when they came alive. After Chris Kunitz's 18th, Brandon Sutter did the rest, scoring twice in just over three minutes to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead that wouldn't change. His second goal, the game-winner, came on a bad Bruins turnover:
Sutter also went 9-for-15 on faceoffs, making him the only Penguin above 50% against the league's best team in the circle.
No. 3 Star: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
Rinne was his usual stellar self, making 32 saves for his league-leading 5th shutout of the season in a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars.
Honourable mention: Justin Peters was the third goaltender to pick up a shutout in a 4-0 victory as the Carolina Hurricanes topped the Washington Capitals by that score. Riley Nash scored twice... Mason Raymond scored the shootout winner in the Vancouver Canucks' 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, though not without controversy. Sergei Bobrovsky made 37 saves in the loss... Marcus Foligno scored the first and last goals for the Buffalo Sabres in their 3-1 defeat of the New York Rangers. The first one was prettier. He went between the legs:
.. Chris Stewart scored twice and Jake Allen made 39 saves as the St. Louis Blues doubled up on the San Jose Sharks, 4-2... Luca Sbisa scored his first of the season to cap the Anaheim Ducks' 2-1 third-period comeback win over the Minnesota Wild... Nik Antropov led the way with 3 points for the Winnipeg Jets in a 5-2 rout of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blake Wheeler scored twice as well... Speaking of three-point nights, Martin St. Louis had one for the Tampa Bay Lightning, as he was in on every goal in a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers... Mikkel Boedker scored twice in the Phoenix Coyotes' 5-2 beatdown of the Los Angeles Kings. Shane Doan and Raffi Torres added a goal and an assist each.
Did you know? John Tortorella was not happy with the Rangers' performance versus Buffalo: "I don't think the Sabres are a hungry team," he said. "I thought we stunk and I'm not going to give Buffalo any credit."
Dishonourable mention: Brutal collapse by the Boston Bruins, who let a two-goal lead turn into a one-goal deficit in four minutes... Corey Perry is definitely going to be suspended.
