NHL Three Stars: Ducks win battle with Blackhawks; Wild top Wings
No. 1 Star: Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks
The game of the night lived up to the hype, as the Chicago Blackhawks took a lead into the third period only to have the Ducks roar back with three goals to win, 4-2. The game winner came off the stick of Selanne, on a feed from Ryan Getzlaf – Goal No. 670 for the Finnish Flash.
No. 2 Star: Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild
The Wild netminder get help from his defense but still had to make 36 saves in their 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. He made 18 saves in the first period alone, and allowed the Wild to build a lead they wouldn’t surrender. It was Minnesota’s first regulation win in Detroit since Jan. 3, 2006.
No. 3 Star: Chuck Kobasew, Colorado Avalanche
Kobasew scored with 3:29 left in the third period to give the Avs a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars, as the puck hit Stephan Robidas in the face and fortuitously dropped in front of him. The goal snapped a 4-game losing streak for Colorado.
Honorable Mention: Logan Couture scored two goals in regulation and added another in the shootout – answering a Jordan Eberle snipe – in the Sharks’ 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. His third-period goal on the power play was a critical tally to bring the Sharks within a goal. Dan Boyle had the eventual game winner in the shootout. … The Toronto Maple Leafs snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Radko Gudas scored his first in the loss. … Nazem Kadri had three points. Jaromir Jagr had a goal and two assists. … Ryan O’Reilly and Mark Olver had a goal and an assist. … Ryan Getzlaf had two assists. … Jonathan Toews scored his 15th, shorthanded. … Ryan Jones scored his first for the Oilers. … Andrew Cogliano took a stick to the mouth but didn’t miss a shift vs. Chicago late in the third.
Did You Know? Jagr has more points (49) against Colorado than any other Western Conference team
Dishonorable Mention: Martin Havlat was hit with interference, unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minte misconduct in the second period. … Mathieu Garon was pulled after giving up three goals on 18 shots for Tampa. … Steven Stamkos was a minus-1 with one shot hack in his hometown. … Did Joffrey Lupul’s hit in Victor Hedman cross the line? … What about Niklas Kronwall on Charlie Coyle? … Patrick Kane was a minus-4 in a Game of the Year. Ouch.
