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NHL Three Stars: Lucic comes up big for Bruins; Ovechkin goes 50

NHL Three Stars: Lucic comes up big for Bruins; Ovechkin goes 50

No. 1. Star: Milan Lucic, Boston Bruins

In big games, your top players need to come up with the big plays. Lucic scored a goal and added an assist in a crucial 3-2 regulation win over Florida. The game-winner came with 1:09 left in the game. The victory essentially eliminated the Panthers from playoff contention, and kept the Bruins three points clear of Ottawa (who also won) for the final playoff spot.

No. 2. Star: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The Caps’ sniper picked up his 50th goal in a season for the sixth time in his career. He also added an assist for good measure in a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Caps’ plus-37 goal differential ranks third in the Eastern Conference.

No. 3 Star: Nick Bonino, Vancouver Canucks

Notched two assists in a big 5-4 shootout win over the Nashville Predators. Bonino also played 19:05 in the contest. The victory further cemented Vancouver’s playoff status – seven points clear of Los Angeles, which is the final team out of the postseason.

Honorable Mention: Rangers forward Derik Brassard scored one goal and added one assist in a 3-2 win over Winnipeg … Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 32 of 34 Jets shots on goal … Winnipeg’s Jim Slater scored a goal … Vancouver forward Alex Burrows scored one goal and added an assist in the win over Nashville… Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis notched two assists and was a plus-3 against the Predators … Andrew ‘Hamburglar’ Hammond moved to 15-1-1  by stopping 16 of 17 Detroit shots on goal in a 2-1 shootout win over the Red Wings … Three of four Ottawa shooters scored in the shootout … Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist scored a goal … Toronto forward Nazem Kadri scored one goal and added one assist in a 3-1 win over Tampa … Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer stopped 40 of 41 shots on goal in the win … The Columbus Blue Jackets won their seventh straight in a 3-2 overtime victory over New Jersey … Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson scored the game winner in overtime … Devils forward Mike Cammalleri scored two goals … Blue Jackets forward Ryan Johansen notched two assists … Bruins forward David Pastrnak scored a goal and added an assist … Washington defenseman Mike Green scored one goal, added one assist and was a plus-3.

Did You Know?: Hammond is the first NHL goaltender to get a point in his first nine road starts in a single season since Edmonton's Grant Fuhr in 1981-82.

Dishonorable Mention: Nashville’s Pekka Rinne stopped 21 of 25 Vancouver shots on goal in the shootout loss … Carolina’s Brett Bellemore was a minus-3 … Five Hurricanes players were a minus-2 or worse … Carolina’s Cam Ward allowed four goals on 20 Caps shots on goal … Florida’s Jussi Jokinen and Aleksander Barkov were each a minus-2.

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