NHL Three Stars: Luongo, Fleury shine; Shanaban coming for Gudbranson?
No. 1 Star: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Lu’s defense did the job in front of him, and the Canucks goalie pitched a shutout against the Edmonton Oilers, 4-0, making 19 saves. He made the saves when they mattered. As Ryan Kesler said: “They had some opportunities, a couple breakaways, Lu stood on his head.”
No. 2 Star: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins goalie made 37 saves, including 13 in the third period, to preserve a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
No. 3 Star: Tomas Kopecky, Florida Panthers
The Panthers forward scored the game-winner in the shootout, in the 10th round, as Florida defeated the Washington Capitals, 3-2. Kopecky also assisted on Dylan Olsen’s goal earlier in the game. Here’s the shootout, for those who’d like to witness it:
Honorable mention: Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. … Daniel Sedin, Zack Kassian, Chris Higgins and Dale Weise had the goals for Vancouver. … Pascal Dupuis, Chris Connor and Jayson Menga scored in the first for the Penguins; goals by Patrik Elias and Dainus Zubrus rallied the Devils.
Did You Know? The Capitals had a goal disallowed in the opening minute when it was ruled Martin Erat nudged Clemmensen out of the goal and interference was called. (AP)
Dishonorable mention: Eric Gelinas was a minus-2 for the Devils. … Adam Henrique was given a third-period penalty for playing with a broken stick. … Zack Kassian may have mocked the guy whose jaw he broke with this stick. … Finally, might we see a Shanaban on Erik Gudbranson for a head-shot on Eric Fehr, which earned him a match penalty? Check out the enforcement from Troy Brouwer in the aftermath:
