NHL Three Stars: Letestu, Timonen provide heroics; Blackhawks rout Red Wings
Happy Birthday, Mr. Hockey
No. 1 Star: Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
After allowing two goals in 26 seconds early in the third period, the Flyers clawed back against the Washington Capitals scoring twice in the final seven minutes to force overtime. It was Timonen's goal with 10 seconds to go in regulation that forced the extra frame and then the veteran blueliner recorded his third assist setting up Ruslan Fedotenko's shorthanded winner 1:34 into OT:
No. 2 Star: Mark Letestu, Columbus Blue Jackets
Letestu's great season continued on Sunday as he would set up Derick Brassard for the game's opening goal and then score the final one in overtime as the Blue Jackets edged the Anaheim Ducks 2-1, moving Columbus into playoff position:
No. 3 Stars: Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks, Anton Khudobin, Boston Bruins
The Blackhawks rookie scored twice and assisted on another during a 7-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings. Things started early with Chicago scoring three times in a 1:39 span within the opening 4:12 of the period. They would add two more scoring twice in eight seconds in the second period and then build up a 7-0 lead by late in the third period.
Khudobin recorded his first shutout as a Bruin and second of his career with a 26-save night during a 2-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. After two periods went by with no goals, David Krejci and Milan Lucic scored 1:50 apart late in the final period to put the Bruins ahead.
Honorable mention: Jonathan Toews had a goal and two assists, while Dave Bolland scored his sixth and seven goals of the season ... Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves for his first win in three starts ... Brad Richardson and Justin Williams scored 1:09 apart in the third period and that was just enough for the Los Angeles Kings to get by the Dallas Stars 3-2. Jonathan Bernier made 13 saves and Jeff Carter scored his 20th of the year ... Your fight of the night: Jakub Voraceck vs. Steven Olesky:
Did you know? "Nicklas Backstrom has 398 career points in 400 NHL games. No active player has more points in fewer games." (AP)
Dishonorable mention: The Blue Jackets were outshot in the third period 17-1 ... Through two periods, the Dallas Stars were outshot 31-8 ... Jimmy Howard allowed four goals on 14 shots and was pulled early in the second period. His replacement, Jonas Gustavsson, allowed a goal eight seconds after entering the game ... Bolland's second tally was actually thanks to a Jakub Kindl backhand past his own netminder ... Max Talbot left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury after missing a check on Mike Green.
