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Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:21 am EDT

Wednesday's Three Stars: Sid's trick; Preds win on shorty

By Greg Wyshynski

 

No. 1 Star: Sidney Crosby(notes), Pittsburgh Penguins

Amid questions about his offensive output early this season, Sid The Kid netted a hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens in the Pens' 6-1 rout. Chris Kunitz(notes), even more maligned than Crosby for his lackluster start, assisted on all three goals and added one of his own. Sidney's best tally? The spinning back-hander for goal No. 2 in the second.

No. 2 star: Jerred Smithson(notes), Nashville Predators

Fantastic unassisted shorthanded goal in the third period by Smithson, which turned out to be the game-winner in the Predators' 4-3 victory at the slumping Minnesota Wild. After Marek Zidlicky(notes) failed to keep the puck in the zone on the power play, Smithson streaked down the ice, beat Brent Burns(notes) 1-on-1 and then beat Niklas Backstrom(notes). It was his fouth career shorthanded goal.

No. 3 star: Craig Anderson(notes), Colorado Avalanche

It didn't look good for the Avs goalie in the first period, as Jarome Iginla(notes) and Olli Jokinen(notes) scored 15 seconds apart. But Anderson and his team settled down, with the goalie stopping 24 Calgary Flames shots in the final two periods and Wojtek Wolski(notes) scoring the game-winner in the third for a big 3-2 road win. Anderson has started all 13 games for the first-place Avalanche. 

Honorable mention: James Neal's(notes) seventh goal of the season was the overtime game-winner for the Dallas Stars, as they defeated the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs by a 4-3 count. ... Ryan Miller(notes) made 31 saves and Paul Gaustad(notes) scored a key third-period goal as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils, 4-1. ... Goals by Kyle Okposo(notes) and John Tavares(notes), as well as 34 saves from Dwayne Roloson(notes), led the New York Islanders to an upset win over the rival New York Rangers, 3-1. No word on which team won more fights in the stands. ... Martin Hanzal(notes), Jim Vandermeer(notes) and Zbynek Michalek(notes) all scored their first goals of the season, while Jason LaBarbera(notes) made 31 saves in a solid 4-1 road win for the Phoenix Coyotes at the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Coyotes were 3 for 6 on the power play. ... David Perron(notes) had two goals and an assist as the St. Louis Blues used three first-period goals to roll to a 5-2 win at the Carolina Hurricanes. Chris Mason(notes) made 16 saves in the third period. ... The Florida Panthers lost their fourth straight thanks in part to rotten luck, as Nick Foligno's(notes) pass knocked off a Panther skate and into the net to break a 2-2 tie. Jarkko Ruutu(notes) scored 38 seconds later, and the Ottawa Senators went on to win 4-3. Pascal Leclaire(notes) left after the first period due to illness, as Brian Elliott(notes) made 26 saves in relief. ... The Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks saw 12 shooters attempt to score in the shootout. In the end, it was Ryane Clowe(notes) converting and Evgeni Nabokov(notes) stopping Jarret Stoll(notes) for a 2-1 San Jose victory. Patrick Marleau(notes) scored his 10th for the Sharks. 

Did you know? According to the AP, the 10-1-2 Avalanche have set a team record for victories in a month.

Dishonorable mention: Jaroslav Halak(notes) was pulled for Carey Price(notes) in the Habs' loss. ... The Florida Panthers were 1-for-7 on the power play. ... Toronto couldn't close it out in Dallas, getting outshot in the third period and allowing a tying goal from Mike Ribeiro(notes) at 17:15. ... Eric Staal(notes) and Joni Pitkanen(notes) were both minus-4 for the Hurricanes. ... Every player on the bench for Montreal had a minus rating against the Penguins. ... Finally, Tim Conboy(notes) appeared for a whole 22 seconds for Carolina, including this fight with Cam Janssen(notes) in the first period:

Related: 3 Stars

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54 Comments

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  1. SharksRedSoxFan
    1. Posted by SharksRedSoxFan Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:31 am EDT

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    Here's betting the Avs don't make the playoffs. The bubble will burst when they open their eyes.
  2. Fill
    2. Posted by Fill Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:34 am EDT

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    anderson is a monster!
  3. j n
    3. Posted by j n Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:41 am EDT

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    Yeah, the 7 guys that are injured right now won't help them when they come back, and they're too young. They'll realize how good they're playing and remember how much they loved the minors. /sarcasm
  4. Thomas P
    4. Posted by Thomas P Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:03 am EDT

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    With 10 wins and only one outright loss, the Avs have put themselves in position to be in the mix right up until the end. They would have to have a mighty swoon not to be. They could go .500 from here on out and still be 10 games above! Oh man, Canucks better get healthy quick.
  5. Twolf
    5. Posted by Twolf Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:37 am EDT

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    Can we please just put the entire Minnesota Wild team in the "Dishonorable Mention" section, please? They deserve it.
  6. UZ
    6. Posted by UZ Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:14 am EDT

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    A guy named SharksRedSox fan is trashing the Avs?
    What's the matter, sad that your bandwagon teams are both failing?
  7. Brian C
    7. Posted by Brian C Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:51 am EDT

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    While I don't neccessarily agree with his assessment, he's correct in one way. Just about every season, theres one, or two, teams that get off to monster starts and then fade as the season progresses. They are usually surprise teams that noone thought would do so well. Now, that's not saying the Avs are one of those teams, but there is usually always at least one surprise team that fades as the All Star Break hits, and then either stumbles in, or stumbles out, of the playoff picture, and usually to a 1st round loss.
    Avs have a pretty good team though - not the most dynamic roster in terms of star power, but all hands are pulling in the same direction, and they have a lot of young motivated and hungry players.
  8. colin c
    8. Posted by colin c Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:14 am EDT

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    I honestly lose you Wysh... damn you hitters an the injuries you cause minus those on teams i like (any devil/cap)... love you fighters but staged (this was) is bad..... love real hockey but glamourize the thugs and midget fights, while whinning bout the violence in hockey (against Ovie... not caused by).... honestly a connundrum wrapped in an anomoloy. or a really screwed writer pawning to readers.
  9. NHL_SharksFinatic
    9. Posted by NHL_SharksFinatic Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:38 am EDT

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    Avs = wth? I'm so surprised they're doing this well. Apparently Sakic was holding people back hehe. But honestly, I don't think this pace is going to last. They may end up winning the division, but I just don't see them going 60-8-14. It'll be interesting to see how long Anderson and the Avs' game will hold up... we may be surprised.
  10. MAC
    10. Posted by MAC Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:58 am EDT

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    Is it Cam "Jan" son or is it cam "yan" son. Big difference between the brady bunch girl and the backup for the devils
  11. fetus enchiladas
    11. Posted by fetus enchiladas Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:30 am EDT

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    colin, you couldn't even put together a coherent sentence (also, what is "whinning"???) and you cap it off with "a connundrum wrapped in an anamoly"... really?
    .....REALLY?
    i'm surprised i have not seen any commentary from habs1 as of yet. i'm not here to rub it in (ok, maybe im lying), but that was a piss poor effort by les habitants yesterday. it seemed like crosby was just going for a walk in the park on 90% of his shifts and nobody bothered to D up on him.
    ...but i guess i don't care too much, since the pens dominated the habs in all aspects of the game last night. fleury ruined his own shutout bid by flipping the puck over the glass when they were already shorthanded.
  12. RELENTLESSFORECHECK
    12. Posted by RELENTLESSFORECHECK Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:30 am EDT

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    For all you Sid-bashers, even the worst among you would have been in awe of Crosby's performance last night. Sid was, quite literally, on another planet. He dominated every aspect of the game and put on a an absolute show for Montreal's defense. He very nearly netted his 4th before taking his foot off the gas and working to get his linemates goals. That was one for the ages.
    Speaking of minus, Montreal never showed up. Sloppy play in all three zones, but especially in the defensive end where they didn't give Halak much of a chance. Leaving Sid all alone in front of Halak for his hat-trick goal? Inexcusable. Only late in the third did they manufacture any passion or willingness to express their will against a team that was running drills around them.
    How bad did it get for Montreal? Eric Goddard saw time on the PP for Pittsburgh... and very nearly scored.
  13. Chuck
    13. Posted by Chuck Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:31 am EDT

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    Ovechkin who? Crosby still showing why he is still hands down the best player in the game.
  14. Chuck
    14. Posted by Chuck Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:35 am EDT

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    Oh and may I note the shortest 3 star write up ever? Ovechkin gets a shootout goal and you rub his balls down with a doctoral thesis Wysh, Crosby gets a trick and it's a "Yeah what eva"
  15. Pensfan71
    15. Posted by Pensfan71 Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:41 am EDT

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    Lets not start the Sid vs. Ovie debate again. Great game for Sid leave it at that. Have to start wondering about Geno. Hes getting some points but hes been very quiet so far. I guess as long as were winning its all good. Pens are proving they are still the team to beat. Another completly dominating performance last night.
  16. MTL_WINGS
    16. Posted by MTL_WINGS Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:43 am EDT

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    freeze the fight video at 0:57. How you gonna take fighting out of the game when even the linesman is enjoying himself.?
  17. fetus enchiladas
    17. Posted by fetus enchiladas Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:19 am EDT

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    i agree... don't start that crap, chuck. they're both great players. end of story.
    pensfan... i dont know if i agree with your assessment of geno... although he's not scoring a lot, he has had some great chances the last few games, he's just been stonewalled. that's not even a topic to worry about, especially since he has 14 points. if he can be "quiet" and score that much, i'd be more than happy with him. he's just a landmine waiting for someone to step on him so he can blow the f*ck up.
    also, i'm sick of the pittsburgh media and people who decide to write in to molinari or rossi and [profane] about chris kunitz and his "lack of production". the guy plays with as much heart as talbot and kennedy and i absolutely love his style of play. he's not meant to be a 40 goal scorer. he's there to open up space and strike fear in d-men who know they're gonna get pounded if they try to play the puck. once tangradi is ready and he's on the second line with geno, we're gonna have two of the more well rounded lines in the nhl.
  18. Wyshynski
    18. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:37 am EDT

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    @ Chuck --
    Your comment is ridiculous. Ovechkin never scores in the shootout.
  19. habs1rule
    19. Posted by habs1rule Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:40 am EDT

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    Where are all the Habs fans this lovely morning?? Luckily, Malkin was sleepwalking, it could have been 10-0, and without Gonchar, Talbot and Kennedy....We are a Venturian light year away from competing with the better teams!!
  20. habs1rule
    20. Posted by habs1rule Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:41 am EDT

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    Sorry, we scored, 10-1!!
  21. Alex B
    21. Posted by Alex B Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:43 am EDT

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    No mention of Tim Kennedy's first career NHL goal? Just because he beat the greatest goaltender ever on your team? Is that it Wysh? He really deserves props. Do it!
  22. The Bog
    22. Posted by The Bog Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:53 am EDT

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    Can I get a minus for the Carolina Hurricanes in general. They are worse than the Maple Leafs, I don't care what anyone says. This team is a complete joke right now. Staal isn't doing jack squat, and every goal is a complete mental break down by one or more players. The 4th goal last night shouldn't even happen in a rec league game. Whitney changes while the puck is coming out of his zone AND he is covering for a pinching defenseman leading to a 3 on 1. At 36 years old you don't know how to make a proper line change? What a disgrace they are. If Jay Harrison plays one more game after that awful display of turnovers and general uselessness they are completely screwed. And if at all possible Cam, would you please make a couple big saves? I know that 3 of the 4 goals were in no way your fault, but a big save on 1 or 2 of those sure would have made the game a lot closer.
    end of rant/
  23. DON_DOC_IN
    23. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:58 am EDT

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    Chuck = Clown.
  24. Dave
    24. Posted by Dave Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:59 am EDT

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    Okay even as a big Penguins fan I'm going to argue with the person that said Sid is hands down the best player in the game. It's too close between him, Ovi, and Malkin...each have their strengths that are better than the other, but it's way too tough to call.
    And @Uz...For all you know that person isn't a bandwagon fan. I've been a Cubs, (Carolina) Panthers, N.O Hornets fan since I was 5 and Pens since I was 7...just sayin, some people pick weird teams =P.

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