Wednesday’s Three Stars: Three-point nights for Desharnais, Cole as Habs down Red Wings
No. 1 Star: David Desharnais, Montreal Canadiens
Desharnais came within a goal of a hat trick with a 2-goal, one assist night as the Canadiens downed the Detroit Red Wings 7-2. He now has 14 points in his last 12 games and passed his career high in goals with his eighth and ninth of the year.
No. 2 Star: Erik Cole, Montreal Canadiens
Cole tallied a point in each period as his goal and two assists to give him nine points in his last six games.
No. 3 Star: Jiri Hudler, Detroit Red Wings
Twenty one seconds into the third period Hudler spoiled the shutout bid of Carey Price. Just under six minutes later Hudler scored again for his second of the night and 15th of the season and most since the 2008-09 season when he potted 23. The shootout jinx might be blamed on TSN's Gord Miller:
Honorable mention: Canadiens rookie Alexei Emelin scored his first NHL goal ... Carey Price made 25 saves for his 18th win ... Max Pacioretty chipped in a goal and an assist in the win.
Did you know? "Justin Abdelkader has the Red Wings' longest current consecutive games streak at 124, one more than D Jonathan Ericsson. Hall of Famer Alex Delvecchio holds the team record of 548." (AP)
Dishonorable mention: The flu caused Nicklas Lidstrom to be scratched from the game, snapping his ironman streak at 213 games ... The loss ends the Red Wings' winning streak of seven games ... Not a great first period for Jimmy Howard. The All-Star goalie allowed four goals on 12 shots and was replaced by Ty Conklin at the start of the second period ... Tomas Plekanec won just two of his 13 draws ... P.K. Subban was benched for the entire second period and finished with 14:36 time on-ice.
