Dion Phaneuf is creepy (Getty Images)
No wonder Dion Phaneuf never smiles. He's bad at it.
No. 1 Star: Joffrey Lupul, Toronto Maple Leafs
Lupul opened the scoring in Edmonton only 0:42 in, and then he helped close the scoring in the overtime frame, setting up Tim Connolly for the game-winner at the Leafs knocked off the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3. The goal and assist were Lupul's 23rd and 38th, respectively. He's having a pretty good season.
No. 2 Star: Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators
42 is both The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything and the number of saves made by Anderson in the Senators' 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers Wednesday night. In case the frequency with which Anderson got hit by pucks didn't give it away, Florida was quite good in this game. But Anderson was better.
No. 3 Star: Erik Cole, Montreal Canadiens
Heading into Wednesday night, the Bruins were 23-0-0 when leading after two periods, but they came perilously close to letting their 3-1 lead in the third slip away thanks to Cole. He picked up an assist early in the final frame, then scored an unassisted goal to send the game to overtime. The Bruins would eventually prevail 4-3 in a shootout, however. Still, if you don't think God is working miracles in Montreal, check out the uncharacteristic giveaway Zdeno Chara served up to give the Canadiens a point:
Honourable mention: Daniel Alfredsson had a shorthanded goal and an assist in the Senators' victory. Centre Jim O'Brien scored his first NHL goal... Sick move by Benoit Pouliot to put Boston ahead early in the second period versus Montreal:
Roberto Luongo made 29 saves as the Vancouver Canucks knocked off the Colorado Avalanche, 3-1... Teemu Selanne scored the game-winning seven minutes into the third as the Anaheim Ducks continue to roll on their road trip, knocking off the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1...
Did you know? The Ducks have three regulation losses in their last 20 games and are now only 6 points out of 8th place. Boudreau's a genius again!
Dishonourable mention: There were 4 goaltender interference penalties in the Boston/Montreal game, including two at the same time, which is amazing. After Louis Leblanc bumped Tim Thomas about a quarter mile outside the crease, Daniel Paille interfered with Price during the delayed penalty call... Finally, while Ottawa got great netminding from Anderson, Scott Clemmensen gave up 4 goals on 16 shots and got the hook.
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