NHL Three Stars: Alex Ovechkin takes over goals lead, tops Ducks
No. 1 Star: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Ovechkin potted two goals and assisted on two tallies by Andre Burakovsky in the Capitals’ 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks and Ovi’s former coach Bruce Boudreau. Ovechkin now has 36 goals on the season to lead the NHL.
No. 2 Star: Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
Elliott made 40 saves, including 20 during a third-period blitz by the Florida Panthers, before winning the five-round shootout for the 2-1 victory.
No. 3 Star: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lighting
Stamkos scored his 30th to open the scoring and assisted on Alex Kilorn’s goal to build a 2-0 lead the Bolts would never relinquish. They defeated the San Jose Sharks, 5-2.
Honorable Mention: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp scored in the shootout to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. … Jori Lehtera had an assist and the shootout winner for the Blues. … Michael Raffl scored his 13th at 12:45 of the third period as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1. … Zach Bogosian had 11 hits for the Sabres. … Logan Couture scored his 21st.
Did You Know? Marc-Edouard Vlasic returned to the Sharks lineup after missing four games.
Dishonorable Mention: John Gibson gave up five goals for the Ducks. … Scott Hannan was a minus-3. … Sidney Crosby was penalized, and then wasn’t.
