NHL Three Stars: Caps mount another comeback; Toews nets OT winner
No. 1 Star: Justin Williams, Washington Capitals
“Mr. Game 7” scored twice and assisted on another as the Capitals downed the New York Rangers 7-3. For the second straight game, Washington overcame a two-plus goal deficit. This time, the Capitals fell behind 3-1 in the first period before scoring six unanswered goals. Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson also recorded three points, while Braden Holtby made 33 saves.
No. 2 Star: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Kane scored his 21st of the season in the first period and then set up Jonathan Toews’ overtime winner as the Blackhawks beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3. Three of Toews’ 11 goals this season have come in overtime. Kane has five points in three games since his 26-game point streak ended.
No. 3 Star: Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils
Schneider was fantastic in a losing effort as the Devils fell to the Boston Bruins 2-1 after a shootout. The New Jersey netminder stopped 38 shots, including nine in overtime.
Honorable Mention: Loui Eriksson scored his fourth goal in seven games and Ryan Spooner put home the only goal in the shootout to help give Boston the win … Steven Stamkos scored twice as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Ottawa Senators 5-2. After going 10 games without a goal, Stamkos now has three in his last two games. Vladimir Namestinkov, Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn each recorded two points for Tampa. Killorn now has five points in his last four games. Mike Angelidis scored his first goal for the Lightning since Jan. 2012 … Aleksander Barkov’s sweet goal in the shootout was the difference as the Florida Panthers edged the Vancouver Canucks 5-4. Jonathan Huberdeau and Jaromir Jagr each chipped in a pair of points with Jagr scoring his 732nd career goal to move him into fourth all-time in NHL history … Dylan Larkin, Brad Richards and Gustav Nyquist scored first period goals to help power the Detroit Red Wings over the Calgary Flames 4-2. Petr Mrazek made 26 saves as Detroit snapped a three-game slide.
Did You Know?
Dishonorable Mention: Ryan Miller, who made 38 stops in regulation and overtime, had to leave the game after injuring himself following Florida’s first shootout attempt … Henrik Lundqvist was pulled after allowing five goals on 24 shots … New York has lost six of eight … San Jose has lost eight of their last 10 games … Sean Monahan was 3-for-16 in the face-off circle … Bobby Ryan left the game in the first period with a hand injury … Mark Borowiecki was ejected 1:40 into the game for this hit on Brian Boyle:
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