NHL Three Stars: Bishop, Stamkos lead Bolts; Bernier blanks Wings
No. 1 Stars: Ben Bishop / Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning netminder tied a season high with 37 saves while the Tampa captain scored twice and assisted on another during a 4-0 shutout of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stamkos scored one of two Lightning shorthanded goals in the third period to help the team snap a three-game losing streak and give him his fifth 30-goal season. The shutout was Bishop’s fourth of the season and 16th of his career.
No. 2 Star: Jonathan Bernier, Toronto Maple Leafs
Bernier stopped 38 shots and Michael Grabner provided the lone goal as the Maple Leafs blanked the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Bernier’s shutout was the third of the season and 12th of his career. Per Elias, Bernier is the first Maple Leafs netminder to blank the Red Wings since Curtis Joseph in 2000.
No. 3 Star: Conor Sheary, Pittsburgh Penguins
Sheary scored two second-period goals as the Penguins beat the New York Rangers 5-3. Sidney Crosby and Tom Kuhnhackl each had two points while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 shots for his 351st career NHL win.
Honorable Mention: Matt Cullen’s game-winning goal came via a unique bank shot:
Crosby’s empty-netter was his 29th of the season and gives up 50 points in his last 37 games played … Penguins rookie Dominik Simon recorded an assist in his NHL debut … Grabner snapped a 30-game goalless drought with his second-period tally. It was originally ruled a penalty shot before officials reviewed the play and saw the puck crossed the line before the net was knocked off its moorings:
Did You Know?
Dishonorable Mention: Discipline coming for Dalton Prout? … The Blue Jackets’ power play failed on five opportunities.
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