NHL Three Stars: Lightning get mad; Blackhawks get even
No. 1 Star: Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning
The diminutive center was dominant in his team’s 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings with two goals and two assists. Johnson was also a plus-3. He equaled Vincent Lecavalier’s franchise record for points in one playoff game, set on May 17, 2011 against the Boston Bruins. He has eight goals in nine career playoff games against the Red Wings. The Lighting have a 2-0 series lead over Detroit. The game ended with quite a fight between Detroit’s Justin Abdelkader and Tampa’s Mike Blunden as part of a major scrum.
No. 2 Star: Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Keith was his typical solid postseason self in his first game this playoff. The blueliner scored one goal, added an assist and was a plus-2 in helping the Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues, 3-2. Keith also played a total of 30:59. The Blackhawks knotted their series with the Blues at 1-1. It was Keith’s first game back since serving a six game suspension for high-sticking Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle.
No. 3 Star: Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
The 37-year-old netminder had a nice bounce- back game after a dreadful Game 1 with 41 saves in his team’s 3-1 Game 2 win over the New York Islanders. It was Luongo’s first playoff win in a Panthers jersey. It was also his second postseason game with the team after 454 regular season games with the Panthers. Florida’s series with the Islanders is tied at 1-1.
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Honorable Mention: Chicago forward Artemi Panarin scored a goal. Teammate Andrew Shaw also scored a goal … Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane notched two assists … Chicago’s Jonathan Toews notched an assist and won 66 percent of his faceoffs … Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko scored a goal as did teammate Kevin Shattenkirk … Florida Panthers forwards Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad both scored a goal and added an assist … Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov also scored a goal and added an assist … Islanders forward John Tavares scored a goal … Nashville Predators forwards James Neal and Colin Wilson each scored one goal in their team’s 3-2 Game 1 win over the Anaheim Ducks … Predators forward Filip Forsberg scored the game-winner … Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler scored one goal as did teammate Ryan Getzlaf.
Did You Know? Chicago’s Corey Crawford won his 46th playoff game, passing Tony Esposito for most in Blackhawks history.
Dishonorable Mention: Islanders forward Brock Nelson was a minus-3 … Abdelkader was a minus-3. Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard allowed four goals on 30 shots on goal. Howard is 0-2 with a 3.59 goal-against average and .891 save percentage.
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