NHL Three Stars: Neuvirth blanks Panthers; Tavares, Moulson help deliver wins
No. 1 Star: Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers
After the Flyers allowed seven goals to the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, they rebounded in a strong way with a 1-0 shutout on Monday. Making his first start for the Flyers, Neuvirth, who started in place of Steve Mason after the goaltender was away from the team for a personal matter, stopped 31 shots, helping new head coach Dave Hakstol earn his first NHL win. The shutout was Neuvrith’s eighth of his career and first since 2012. Brayden Schenn scored the lone goal of the game.
No. 2 Star: John Tavares, New York Islanders
The Islanders captain scored what ended up standing as the game-winning goal and recorded a pair of assists in a 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The win was New York’s first at their new home at Barclays Center. Tavares could have had a second goal, but was denied by Ondrej Pavelec on a third period penalty shot.
No. 3 Star: Matt Moulson, Buffalo Sabres
Moulson scored a late third period power goal that served as an insurance marker and he assisted on two other goals as the Sabres beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2. The was win head coach Dan Bylsma’s first with his new team. Jamie McGinn, Ryan O’Reilly and Rasmus Ristolainen each had two points. Meanwhile, Jack Eichel kept being awesome.
Honorable Mention: The Islanders converted on two of their six power plays … Thomas Greiss made 22 saves for his first win as an Islander … Pavelec made 40 saves in a losing effort, including this one on:
Brian Boyle was one of four Tampa Bay Lightning players to record two points as his two goals helped double up the Boston Bruins 6-3. His first goal came thanks to some out-muscling of David Pastrnak:
Steven Stamkos scored his second goal of the season, which also doubled as his 500th NHL point:
According to the AP, that was Tampa’s first win in Boston since March 25, 2010, snapping a 10-game losing streak… Via Elias, the only active NHL players to reach 500 points in fewer games than Stamkos are Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Jaromir Jagr … Anton Stralman, Tyler Johnson and Victor Hedman each had two assists … Torey Krug and David Krejci each chipped in three points, while Loui Eriksson tallied a pair of goals in the loss … Columbus and Buffalo’s power plays scored on five of 10 combined opportunities … This is how they celebrate goals in Brooklyn … Radim Vrbata scored his 39th career shootout goal and Ryan Miller won his NHL-best 53rd career shootout as the Vancouver Canucks edged the Anaheim Ducks 2-1.
Did You Know? Before their game, the Bruins signed Travis Roy to a one-day contract and made a $50,000 donation to the former Boston University player’s foundation.
Dishonorable Mention: Tuukka Rask was in net for all six Tampa goals. He’s now allowed 14 in three games … Florida’s power play went 0-for-6 … Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed four goals in each of his three starts this season … Dustin Byfuglien left the game in the third period with a leg injury.
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