NHL Three Stars: Price, Parise help respective clubs advance to Round 2

No. 1 Star: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Montreal eliminated the Ottawa Senators in Game 6 thanks to a 2-0 win Sunday night. Price made 43 stops, including 9 in the final 3:14, for his first shutout of the playoffs. He’s currently second among goaltenders with a .957 even-strength save-percentage through the first round.

No. 2 Star: Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild

Parise scored the opening goal and the insurance marker as the Wild beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 to advance to Round 2. His first goal came shorthanded and from a tough angle, beating Jake Allen to open the scoring: 

No. 3 Star: Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild

Dubnyk continued his amazing run since January by stopping 30 shots in Game 6 and 67 total in the final two games of the series. Minnesota will now face the Chicago Blackhawks for the third straight year.

Honorable Mention: Mikko Koivu won 20 of 32 face-offs … Minnesota blocked 23 shots to St. Louis’ six … The Parise/Jason Pominville/Mikael Granlund line combined for 4 goals and 12 points at even strength in the series … Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring for the Canadiens 13:26 into the first period:

Montreal’s empty-net goal with 0.3 seconds left to give them a 2-0 lead was their first two-goal lead of the series. 

Did You Know? “This was the first time in three years that none of the Western Conference series in the first round went to seven games.” (AP)

Dishonorable Mention: St. Louis has been knocked out the playoffs in the first round three straight years … The Blues have lost 10 straight playoff games when facing elimination … A quick whistle cost Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Ottawa the tying goal in the second period … The Senators failed on four power play opportunities, including one with 3:14 left in the third period.

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