NHL Three Stars: More wizardry from Pavel Datsyuk; Joe Pavelski plays hero
No. 1 Star: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings star opened the scoring and closed the scoring in their 3-2 overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche. His goal with 16 seconds remaining was a beauty: a lunging one-handed shot off a rebound of a Henrik Zetterberg chance.
No. 2 Star: Jussi Jokinen, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Juice scored his seventh of the season – as predicted by Dan Bylsma – while skating in place of Sidney Crosby. Then, in a shootout against the New York Rangers, Jokinen scored the lone goal to give the Penguins a 2-1 win. Marc-Andre Fleury made 34 saves.
No. 3 Star: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
The Sharks forward cashed in during a scramble in front of the net with just 2:06 remaining in regulation, as San Jose defeated the Calgary Flames, 2-1. It was his 12th goal of the season. Antti Niemi had 23 saves in the win.
Honorable mention: Jochen Hecht had a goal and an assist and Ryan Miller made 35 saves at the Buffalo Sabres toppled the Ottawa Senators, 4-2. Steve Ott scored his seventh. … Jake Allen made 26 saves and David Backes scored his second goal in two games as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1. Chris Stewart scored his 16th … Kari Lehtonen made 27 saves as the Dallas Stars defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 3-1. Lane MacDermid, acquired in the Jaromir Jagr trade, scored his second. Alex Chiasson scored his first NHL goal.
Did you know? Marc-Andre Fleury made a glove-less save.
Dishonorable mention: Marc Methot, Sergei Gonchar and Erik Condra were all a minus-2 for Ottawa. … Brandon Dubinsky was a minus-2 for the Jackets. … Ben Lovejoy, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Teemu Selanne and Daniel Winnik were all minus-2 for the Ducks.
