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Thursday’s Three Stars: Anderson blanks Rangers; OT heroics for Legwand, Eriksson

No. 1 Star: Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

The Senators goalie made 34 saves to shut out the New York Rangers at MSG, 3-0, his first blanking of the season. He was outstanding in a scoreless first period; after that, Jason Spezza's two goals and Milan Michalek's 23rd of the season provided the offense.

No. 2 Star: David Legwand, Nashville Predators

Legwand scored in the second period to spark a Predators' rally, and then won the game in overtime on a great individual effort. Nashville overcame Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog goals to win, 3-2. Check out Legwand's game-winner:

No. 3 Star: Loui Eriksson, Dallas Stars

The perennially underrated Eriksson scored twice in regulation, including the game-tying power-play goal in the third period, and then scored the shootout clincher in the Stars' 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Jack Johnson had a goal and two assists for the Kings.

[Related: Why is fighting on the decline in the NHL?]

Honorable mention: Blair Jones scored his first goal with the Calgary Flames in overtime to give them a 1-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, converting his own rebound at 1:51 of the extra frame. Miikka Kiprusoff made 23 saves for the shutout win. … Sergei Bobrovsky was huMANgous big in making 33 saves and leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. Scott Hartnell, Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier had the offense; John Tavares scored his 15th in the loss. It was the 26th win for the Flyers in their last 28 games against the Isles. … While the game was secondary to other stories last night for the Habs, the Montreal Canadiens dropped a 2-1 decision at the Boston Bruins on goals by Jordan Caron and Milan Lucic. Tim Thomas made 33 saves. … Jiri Tlusty had two goals and an assist, and Eric Staal had three helpers, as the Carolina Hurricanes rolled over the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-2. Jay Harrison had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick. The Canes scored four in the first period. Tuomo Ruutu was a plus-4. … The Detroit Red Wings won a 4-round shootout against the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2. Radim Vrbata scored goal No. 21, while Johan Franzen tied the game in the third. But it was this Henrik Zetterberg Forsberg-esque beauty that won the game (followed by a Jimmy Howard save):

Antti Niemi made 24 saves as Logan Couture and Brad Winchester provided the goals in the San Jose Sharks' 2-0 win at the Winnipeg Jets. … Daniel Sedin's power-play goal in overtime — after a David Backes boarding penalty on Alex Burrows in regulation — gave the Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Burrows had two goals, as did Jason Arnott. … Dave Bolland had two goals and an assist in the Chicago Blackhawks' 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. Chicago got two goals 23 seconds apart from rookie Jimmy Hayes and Victor Stalberg in the second period.

Did you know? Marc Savard will purchase a luxury suite for each remaining Bruins home game for pediatric patients at Children's Hospital Boston, with a focus on children suffering from the effects of head trauma. Savard was expected to attend the game, but his flight was canceled due to the weather. (AP)

Fight of the Night: Even scrap here between Zenon Konopka and Brandon Prust:

Dishonorable mention: Mathieu Garon gave up three goals on eight shots before getting yanked in the first period. … Pavel Kubina and Vincent Lecavalier were both minus-3. … Josh Harding, under the weather, was pulled after giving up four goals on 21 shots. … Matt Cullen was a minus-3 for the Wild. … The Stars and Kings got physical late in the game with Anze Kopitar injured on a monster Brendan Morrow check, Mike Richards getting an instigator and misconduct conduct penalties for fighting with a face shield; and Drew Doughty getting a misconduct in overtime. … PK Subban and Steve Staios could be facing the Shanahammer.

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