NHL Three Stars: Lundqvist blanks Sabres; Coyotes comeback on Predators
No. 1 Star: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Lunqvist recorded his 47th career shutout with 29 saves during a 2-0 blanking of the Buffalo Sabres. Goals from Derick Brassard and Chris Kreider were enough to give the Rangers their second straight win since coming off a nine-game road trip to start the season. Kreider's came off a bad angle bank shot:
No. 2 Star: Thomas Greiss, Phoenix Coyotes
The first period wasn't kind to him, but Greiss recovered and helped the Coyotes to a 5-4 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators. After allowing three goals in the opening 20 minutes, Greiss settled down and ended up making 36 saves and made sure none of the six Nashville shooters beat him in the shootout. In the process, his teammates dug themselves out of a 3-0 hole with two goals in each of the second and third periods.
No. 3 Star: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Miller was the only positive for the Sabres in their loss to the Rangers with his 44 saves. Afterward, Miller said of the team's troubles, "When everyone wants this to stop, it’ll stop."
Honorable mention: Marc Staal played in his 400th NHL game and Dan Girardi his 500th ... Zdeno Chara scored a game-tying power play goal with 2:50 left in the third period and Jarome Iginla netted the only goal in the shootout as the Boston Bruins edged the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 ... Carl Soderberg (Bruins) and Jordan Szwarz (Coyotes) each scored their first NHL goals ... With the win, Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett tied Bob Francis for the franchise lead in wins (165).
Did You Know? "Boston's one shot in the first was its fewest in a period since getting just one in the third period of a win over New Jersey on Jan. 5, 2008." (AP)
Dishonorable mention: Opponents are outscoring the Sabres 20-2 in the first period this season ... Anaheim's power play went 0-for-4 and fell to 4-for-55 on the season, good enough for last in the league ... Matt Hendricks left the game for the Predators in the first period after hitting his face on the ice in the aftermath of a collision with Derek Morris.
