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Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:02 am EST

Sunday's Three Stars: The King blanks Boston; Jackets rally

By Greg Wyshynski

No. 1 Star: Henrik Lundqvist(notes), New York Rangers

King Henrik earned his 150th NHL victory and 21st career shutout in the Rangers' 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins, stopping 29 shots. He turned aside 14 shots in the third period, including solid work during a four-minute penalty kill for the Rangers.

No. 2 star: Raffi Torres(notes), Columbus Blue Jackets

There were a few heroes for the Jackets in their wild 5-4 OT win at the Washington Capitals, but it was Torres's two third-period goals that earned Columbus the regulation tie. His wraparound at 13:36 beat a stick-less Jose Theodore(notes) (27 saves); after Quintin Laing's(notes) goal gave the Caps the lead again, Torres tapped in a Derick Brassard(notes) feed at 19:37 with Steve Mason(notes) (32 saves) pulled. Oh, and he may have inadvertently knocked Alex Ovechkin(notes) out of the game with an upper body injury, too.

No. 3 star: Mason Raymond(notes), Vancouver Canucks

Getting the first goal against the Colorado Avalanche and Craig Anderson(notes) was important for Vancouver, and Raymond provided it with a rebound tally in the first. In the second, he started the play that led to Ryan Kesler's(notes) fifth of the season. Vancouver won, 3-0, sending Colorado to their first consecutive regulation loses this season.

Honorable mention: The San Jose Sharks prolonged the Carolina Hurricanes' misery, winning 5-1 on five consecutive goals after Brandon Sutter(notes) opened the scoring. Kent Huskins(notes), Brad Staubitz(notes), Douglas Murray(notes), Marc-Edouard Vlasic(notes) and Patrick Marleau(notes) had the tallies. Evgeni Nabokov(notes) had 25 saves. ... Andrew Raycroft(notes) played behind a stout Vancouver defense and was helped by a couple of posts, but earned his first shutout since 2007 with 18 saves. ... Marian Gaborik(notes) scored his 11th for the Rangers' lone goal, returning from injury. ... Nicklas Backstrom(notes) scored for the Capitals on a sick passing play. Teammate Brooks Laich(notes) stepped up with a pair of goals after Ovechkin's injury. ... R.J. Umberger(notes) had two goals, including the OT winner for Columbus.

Did you know?: The Rangers are now 9-3-1 when Gaborik plays, and 6-2-1 when he scores a goal.

Dishonorable mention: "We're all taken aback," said Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice after his team dropped to 2-8-3 on the season. No kidding. ... Boston was 0-for-5 on the power play, and hasn't scored with the man advantage since Oct. 22. ... Finally, Mike Green's(notes) detractors are going to be replaying this Rick Nash(notes) undressing on a continuous loop.

Related: Brandon Sutter, Steve Mason, Nicklas Backstrom, Mason Raymond, Derick Brassard, Alex Ovechkin, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Mike Green, Brad Staubitz, Douglas Murray, Ryan Kesler, Brooks Laich, Rick Nash, Kent Huskins, Craig Anderson, R.J. Umberger, Henrik Lundqvist, Raffi Torres, Marian Gaborik, Andrew Raycroft, Evgeni Nabokov, Patrick Marleau, Jose Theodore, Quintin Laing, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, 3 Stars

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28 Comments

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  1. big audio
    1. Posted by big audio Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:07 am EST

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    Gaborik didn't even get full graphite on that shot, but some people just have a knack for scoring goals. The key to that entire play was the way Gaborik stopped in his tracks during the rush to create the space for him to receive/shoot the puck. Moves like that are what make good players great. His really quick release is pretty good as well. Thomas said after the game that he never saw the release of that shot, he caught a glimpse of the puck at about 8 feet away in his peripheral vision. Phenomenal play.
    Henrik was solid as always. I just wish they would stop guys from running him in the crease, and that the refs would enforce the crease rule as for interference etc.. Before Henrik has a major injury like Richter did several times. We saw what life was like without Gaborik and that wasn't very pretty. Life without Lundqvist would be lottery pick.
  2. Johnny Appleseed
    2. Posted by Johnny Appleseed Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:16 am EST

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    The reason why Thomas didn't see Gabby's shot until late was because of the Ranger (Anisimov?) who crashed the net, creating a perfect screen for the one-timer.
    However you slice it, 'twas a beautiful hockey play.
  3. HotStacey
    3. Posted by HotStacey Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:24 am EST

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    that nash play is exactly what rafalski will do every once in a great while. all you can say is "wtf was THAT?"
  4. Dan
    4. Posted by Dan Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:52 am EST

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    Wow that was embarrassing. Mike Green, please pick your panties up off the ice 'cuz Nash made it look like your pants were down.
  5. Fill
    5. Posted by Fill Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:59 am EST

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    how does mike green get undressed with all that muscle holding up his loin cloth?
  6. Chuck
    6. Posted by Chuck Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:40 am EST

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    Poor Mikey Green, has to actually play D this year and it isn't working out too well..., of course Theodore didn't help him very much either.. basically stepping aside saying "here have a goal sir"
  7. Drell
    7. Posted by Drell Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:51 am EST

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    green's vagina was showing.
  8. Russell
    8. Posted by Russell Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:47 am EST

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    Do not feel bad Mikey, you are not the first he has made look like an orange cone, and will not be the last.
    *See Derek Morris
  9. RobMonroe
    9. Posted by RobMonroe Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:01 am EST

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    Just realize, that was not the only terrible-play-to-give-up-a-goal he made all weekend. I think I counted three... (And I'm a Caps fan, he just makes me really mad by taking up a spot on the top pairing of D on a team that needs actual defensive players!)
  10. Tacks
    10. Posted by Tacks Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:25 am EST

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    That's because Mike Green is a forward in defenseman's clothing - he's got a better shot at winning the Selke than the Norris.
  11. The Bog
    11. Posted by The Bog Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:29 am EST

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    I thought Green was a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman? Wait what? You have to be able to play defense to get that trophy? I'm sorry I was still living in the 80s when defense wasn't a requirement to be the best defenseman.
  12. habs1rule
    12. Posted by habs1rule Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:30 am EST

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    @7...Try having a kid, stupid....You probably run from the site of blood. Hasnt your wife bit-ched slapped you today??
  13. Runnin up on ya !
    13. Posted by Runnin up on ya ! Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:50 am EST

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    As much as I was rooting for Dubinsky to step up and be the 1st line center, it seems he just isnt cut out for it, "yet". On the flip side though, I was at the game yesterday and I thought Anisimov played pretty well in between Gabby and Prospal, which plays into something I have thought for a while now ("If I was the boss") which is why not let Dubi and Cally grow together year in and year out and stick them with a vet kind of like what Detroit did with the "2kids&aGoat line" of Zetterburg/Datsyuk/Hull. Given our current line up and Anisimov's play it's not in his best intrest to stay on the 3rd/4th line and Gabby/Ani/Vinny with Cally/Dubi/Avery looks more like the best "Paper" line up we should produce. But what do I know.
  14. bizkit 510
    14. Posted by bizkit 510 Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:29 am EST

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    Big win for the Jackets mentally. Even though they lost the shoot out to Pittsburgh, the Jackets played well for 56 minutes of the game. Next they went and got a very good win against another first place team. I don't know why but they continue to play well against the Eastern teams. I hope they continue as they play Carolina and Atlanta this week before playing Detroit next Wednesday. A nice 4 or 5 game win streak would be a real nice way to start November off. Oh well, I'll enjoy this win for the next few days.
    GO JACKETS!!!
  15. jinx
    15. Posted by jinx Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:51 am EST

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    The Jackets play well against Eastern Conference teams because they are an EST team playing in the Western Conference. It's silly that they are in the West to begin with. That's why they have trouble on long west coast trips.
  16. M
    16. Posted by M Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:09 am EST

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    I never believed you could build a defensive core around Mike Green. His skills are unquestionable, but not a defensive anchor. That said he hasn't seemed on track all season he has to be hurt. I never get these situations, isn't it better to shut an injured player down all together, suck up the month or two and get back to 100%. Instead they push players along at 50 or 60% for a whole season and completely ruin the players expectations since they are merely on the ice. Also, with Ovechkin either out or not 100% it will really be interesting to see how the caps fair.
  17. Matt S
    17. Posted by Matt S Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:11 am EST

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    Nash is a pretty impressive player, but Green should really just be a forward already, he looks like he didn't have a clue on that play.
  18. habs1rule
    18. Posted by habs1rule Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:17 am EST

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    Mike Green is an offensive defenseman, he should be doing what he does best, score and sett other plays up..Pair him up with a total "stay at home defenseman" and let him do his thing.
  19. habs1rule
    19. Posted by habs1rule Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:39 am EST

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    PS...Msr Jacques Martin...I think we have your system down now, that ten pass breakout play for the defensive zone is almost working to perfection. Now the opponent is intercepting the ninth pass. Progress, though!!
  20. Pensfan71
    20. Posted by Pensfan71 Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:48 am EST

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    Green for the Norris trophy! In all seriousness Rick Nash is just nasty tho, he seems to fly under the radar a little i guess because he plays in Columbus. Anyway Green should just try to play wing or something, he sucks in his own end I dont care what you say wysh. He's awful at actually playing defense. He was benched in game 7 against the pens last year... with the season on the line...I don't care how many goals he scores, to be nominated for the Norris trophy when you cant play defense is just a joke.
  21. Treads
    21. Posted by Treads Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:13 pm EST

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    The only time Green plays any assemblance of defense is when some uses him in a video game.
  22. Guy F
    22. Posted by Guy F Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:03 pm EST

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    In Canada, we love to debate who should and shouldn't be on Team Canada. Whenever I have suggested that Dan Boyle and Duncan Keith both deserve to be ahead of Mike Green in the "smaller, offensive-minded defenseman" role, I have often been met with opposition. Comments would include, "Yeah, like a Norris finalist isn't going to make it", "Are you nuts, Green rocks", "The guy scored 31 goals in 73 games" etc...etc...
    In my defense, please see exhibit A above. You think Nash is slick...try Malkin, OV, Kovy and some sick Datsukian dekes...Greener would be as lost as a Mexican driving a zamboni.
  23. MAC
    23. Posted by MAC Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:11 pm EST

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    I haven't seen Green get undressed like that since Greenlife52.com
  24. MAC
    24. Posted by MAC Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:13 pm EST

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    If Raffi Torres got one more goal, Would that be a "sombrero" trick?

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