NHL Three Stars: Penguins road streak continues; Hawks in playoffs
No. 1 Star: Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins sniper scored a goal and added an assist on Sidney Crosby’s game-winner in his team’s 3-2 overtime victory at the New York Rangers. The victory for the Penguins was their fifth straight on the road. Kessel has seven points in his last two games – both Penguins wins.
No. 2 Star: Victor Rask, Carolina Hurricanes
The forward continued his breakout year with his 19th and 20th goals in a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. The second-year Swede has six goals in his last 10 games. The Hurricanes kept their distant playoff hopes alive. They have 81 points, four behind the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Philly has two games in hand and Detroit has one game in hand on Carolina.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest today]
No. 3 Star: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago’s captain assisted on Andrew Ladd’s game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Toews also won 59 percent of his faceoffs. With the win, the Blackhawks clinched their eighth straight playoff berth.
Honorable Mention: Carolina goaltender Cam Ward stopped 23 of 25 shots on goal … Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal notched an assist in 19:31 of action … New Jersey forward Bobby Farnham scored a goal as did teammate Travis Zajac … Crosby’s game-winner was his 22nd point in his last 15 games played … Penguins forward Matt Cullen scored a goal … New York Rangers forward Eric Staal scored two goals. It was his first multi-goal game since being dealt to the Rangers at this year’s trade deadline … Penguins defenseman Derrick Pouliot notched an assist … Chicago forward Patrick Kane notched an assist … Ladd has nine points (six goals and three assists) in 12 games since he was traded to Chicago in February… Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows scored a goal. Teammate Sven Baertschi also scored a goal.
Did You Know? Alain Vigneault remained stuck on 141 regular-season wins as Rangers coach. He is one away from tying Roger Neilson for sixth-place on the franchise’s all-time wins list.
Dishonorable Mention: Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood lost his first game in regulation in his NHL career … Canucks defensemen Dan Hamhuis and Yannick Weber were each a minus-2 … Vancouver fell to 2-7-1 in their last 10 games. They’re two points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the worst record in the NHL.
MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY
