NHL Three Stars: Nikolaj Ehlers tricks Coyotes; Eichel leads Sabres
No. 1 Star: Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets
The Jets rookie tallied his first NHL hat trick in their 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. The reason for the spark? It might have been a new line with Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Dustin Byfuglien had two goals and an assist in the win.
No. 2 Star: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
Fleury stopped all 25 shots he faced to shut out the New Jersey Devils, 2-0, Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel had the goals. It was his fourth shutout of the season.
No. 3 Star: Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
The rookie scored the game-tying and game-winning goals for the Sabres in their 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner stopped 34 shots against his old team.
Honorable Mention: Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, Shea Theodore and David Perron each had a goal and an assist in the Anaheim Ducks’ 6-2 blowout win over the Boston Bruins. … Eddie Lack stopped all 26 shots he faced and Riley Nash had two goals as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-0. … Another brutal loss for the Montreal Canadiens, as the Columbus Blue Jackets scored the first two and the last two goals in their 5-2 win. Cam Atkinson and Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist. … After the Toronto Maple Leafs opened the scoring, the Florida Panthers roared back with five goals in their 5-1 win. Reilly Smith and Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist. … Pekka Rinne looked like Pekka Rinne again, stopping 28 shots in the Nashville Predators’ 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. James Neal had the third-period game-winner. … Joe Thornton tallied his 1,300th career point in the San Jose Sharks’ 6-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist.
Did You Know? Derek Dorsett and Cody Bass had a heck of a tilt:
Dishonorable Mention: Max Tablot was a minus-4; Dennis Seiden rg and Landon Ferraro were a minus-3. … Corey Crawford was pulled after the first period after giving up three goals. … Artem Anisimov and Trevor van Riemsdyk were a minus-3. … Patrick Roy pulled goalie Calvin Pickard in the third period with around 12 minutes left in the game, playing 4-on-4 and down by four goals; Paul Martin scored into the empty net for San Jose. … David Desharnais and Tomas Fleischmann were a minus-3. … Max Pacioretty left with an injury. … Kevin Connauton was a minus-3, and saw a Byfuglien shot from center ice deflect off his stick and into his own goal.
