NHL Three Stars: Predators make statement; Nylander breaks out
No. 1 Star: Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators
Nashville’s first-line center had a big game with one goal and two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Johansen has 25 points in 33 games since he was traded to the Preds for Seth Jones in January. The current Western Conference standings have the Kings and Predators meeting in the first-round of the playoffs.
No. 2 Star: William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
The 19-year-old rookie had his best game as an NHLer with one goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames. Nylander has seven points in 12 games since his call-up to. The Maple Leafs have 63 points, one fewer than the Winnipeg Jets for the worst record in the NHL.
No. 3 Star: Steve Mason, Philadelphia Flyers
Mason got the Flyers back on track after a tough Saturday loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins by stopping 23 of 24 New York Islanders shots on goal in a 4-1 victory. Mason has won five of his last seven starts. The Flyers are one point back of the Detroit Red Wings for the final Wild Card spot.
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Honorable Mention: Filip Forsberg became the first Predators player since Patric Hornqvist in 2009-10 to score 30 goals in a season. He fired the game-winner against the Kings. Teammate James Neal scored a goal and added an assist … Nashville defenseman Roman Josi scored a goal and added an assist … Kings center Anze Kopitar notched two assists … Flyers captain Claude Giroux scored his 19th goal of the season … Flyers forward Sean Couturier notched an assist and was plus-2 … Toronto forward P.A. Parenteau scored a goal and was a plus-3 … Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner had two assists … Rangers forward Rick Nash scored his first goal since Dec. 30. He was out two months with a bone bruise. Nash returned to action on March 12 … Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello scored his 23rd goal of the season … New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 of 27 shots on goal.
Did You Know? The Rangers have earned 13 straight wins in the game immediately following a regulation loss, dating back to Dec. 22, 2015 against the Anaheim Ducks.
Dishonorable Mention: Los Angeles forward Jeff Carter was a minus-3. Teammate Jonathan Quick was pulled after allowing three goals on 27 shots on goal in two periods … Islanders forwards Shane Prince and Josh Bailey were each a minus-3. Teammate Brock Nelson was a minus-4 … The Islanders have lost six of their last seven games.
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