Sunday’s Three Stars: Wild help Hawks clinch; Foote’s finale
No. 1 Star: David Jones, Colorado Avalanche
Jones completed his breakout year by scoring 27th goal in overtime as Colorado beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. After assisting on two earlier Avalanche goals, including Milan Hejduk's tying effort early in the third period, Jones capitalized on a power play with 1:03 left in the extra frame to snap a four-game losing streak to finish the season.
No. 2 Star: Brent Johnson, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh was boosted by a four-goal second period thanks to Tyler Kennedy, Pascal Dupuis, Mark Letestu, and Mike Rupp as they downed the Atlanta Thrashers 5-2. Giving Marc-Andre Fleury a rest, Johnson won his fourth consecutive start by making 37 saves. Ben Lovejoy recorded a career high three assists and Mike Comrie scored his first goal of the season for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh will face Tampa Bay in the first round.
No. 3 Star: Danny Cleary, Detroit Red Wings
Cleary finished his career season by scoring his 26th of the year that ended up being the game winner en route to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. He also set up Pavel Datsyuk's 23rd of the season in the first period. Detroit had already locked up the No. 3 seed entering the game and will once again face the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round.
Honorable mention: Alexander Urbom's first NHL goal stood as the game winner as the New Jersey Devils held off the Boston Bruins 3-2. After the game, Devils interim head coach Jacques Lemaire announced he would not return behind the bench next season ... Antti Miettinen's goal early in the third period broke a 3-3 tie and sunk the Dallas Stars' playoff hopes as Minnesota was victorious 5-3. Jose Theodore made 26 saves and helped the Chicago Blackhawks clinch the final spot in the Western Conference ... In Colorado, after 1,154 games between Quebec/Colorado and Columbus, Adam Foote's 19-year NHL career came to an end:
Three NHL awards were won today as Corey Perry grabbed the Rocket Richard Trophy; Daniel Sedin the Art Ross Trophy; and the Vancouver's goaltending tandem of Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider took home the William M. Jennings Trophy ... The NHL released the first round playoff schedule to end a busy weekend.
Did you know? "New Jersey's 38-39-5 record was its first sub .500 mark since 1990-91 (32-33-15)." (AP)
Dishonorable mention: Dallas needed a win in regulation or overtime to grab the eighth seed in the Western Conference, but like the Carolina Hurricanes last night, couldn't seal the deal ... Corey Crawford dropped his first game to the Red Wings this season and finished 4-1 against them.
