Saturday’s Three Stars: Smith blanks Sharks; Kostitsyn’s pair sinks Wings; Giroux’s pretty shootout winner
No. 1 Star: Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes
Smith's career year continued as his 42-save night helped the Coyotes to a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. The shutout was Smith's fifth of the season and 16th of his career, while the win was his 30th. Rookie defenseman Michael Stone scored his first NHL goal and added an assist as the Coyotes stayed two points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for seventh in the Western Conference.
No. 2 Star: Andrei Kostitsyn, Nashville Predators
Having cornered the market on Kostitsyns, the Predators were aided by their presence in the lineup as Andrei and his brother Sergei hooked up on a pair of power play goals as Nashville beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Sergei set up both of Andrei's goals as AK-46 upped his production to three goals and six points in five games since being traded the Predators. David Legwand assisted on all three goals and Pekka Rinne made 35 saves.
No. 3 Stars: Kari Lehtonen, Dallas Stars / Jonas Gustavsson, Toronto Maple Leafs / Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia Flyers
In captain Brenden Morrow's return from an 18-game absence due to injury, his goal would be more than enough as the Stars would drop the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. Lehtonen made 21 saves for his third shutout of the year and 20th of his career.
Gustavsson (27 saves) and Bryzgalov (29 saves) combined for the double shutout as Philadelphia needed just this sick Claude Giroux goal in the shootout to win 1-0:
Honorable mention: The Washington Capitals scored twice in the opening 8:15 and held off a Boston Bruins comeback for a 4-3 victory. Alex Semin had a goal and an assist as the Capitals improved to 20-0-0 when leading after two periods ... Zdeno Chara introduced Marcus Johansson to the glass ... Peter Mueller scored in regulation and potted one of the only two goals in the shootout as the Colorado Avalanche edged the Edmonton Oilers 3-2. Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots for his sixth win in eight starts and improved to 7-0 in shootouts this season ... David Clarkson and Marek Zidlicky scored 14 seconds apart late in the third period as the New Jersey Devils stunned the New York Islanders with a come-from-behind 2-1 win ... Brian Elliott's 21 saves helped the St. Louis Blues down the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Chris Stewart and T.J. Oshie scored second period goals to snap a 1-1 tie as the Blues improved to 12-1-1 in their last 14 games at home ... Tyler Ennis and Jason Pominville scored the only Sabre goals in the shootout and Ryan Miller made 33 saves as the Buffalo got by the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Sabres rookie Marcus Foligno scored his first NHL goal. Erik Karlsson scored his 18th and 19th goals in the loss ... Jeff Skinner scored twice and Cam Ward made 36 stops as the Carolina Hurricanes doubled up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 ... Erik Cole's two goals and Carey Price's 32 saves powered the Montreal Canadiens past the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Blake Geoffrion scored his first goal as a Hab as Montreal scored three times in the third period to pull ahead from the Canucks.
Did you know? Ilya Bryzgalov has three shutouts in his last four starts.
Dishonorable mention: Corey Perry injured his shoulder against the Stars and X-rays after the game were negative. According to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register, the team doesn't believe it's serious ... The Oilers were robbed of the tying goal midway through the third period after an official deemed Sam Gagner's presence in the crease to be goaltender interference: