NHL Three Stars: Tarasenko train continues; Rinne rolls; Sharks run out of time

No. 1 Star: Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

The young Russian’s roll continued with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. He has seven points in his last four games.

No. 2 Star: Brandon Sutter, Pittsburgh Penguins

Scored a goal and added two assists to pace the Penguins third line in a 4-3 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets. Sutter also won 58 percent of his face offs.

No. 3 Star: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

Continued his comeback from an injury-riddled 2013-14 campaign with a stellar 33-save performance in Nashville’s 3-2 win over Dallas. Rinne’s save percentage is now at .932 and his goals against average is 1.89.

Honorable Mention: Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored a goal and added two assists in 23:27 of action … the Tampa Bay Lightning finished off a perfect four-game homestand with a 5-2 win over Calgary, going 4-0-0 in the process … Craig Paquette scored two goals against the Flames … Philadelphia’s Michael Del Zotto scored a goal in 23:18 of action. It was Del Zotto’s first goal after some unflattering news last weekend … Flyers forward Sean Couturier scored a goal and added an assist … Ottawa’s Craig Anderson made 35 saves in a Senators shutout of Minnesota … Pittsburgh forward Nick Spaling notched an assist and was a plus-3 … Winnipeg forward Evander Kane had a Gordie Howe hat trick … Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson picked up two assists in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Avalanche … Stephane Robidas and Jarome Iginla’s match roughing minors at the end of regulation meant 3-on-3 to start overtime in Colorado’s 4-3 win over Toronto. It was fun to watch … Vancouver’s Ryan Miller stopped 34 of 36 San Jose shots on goal … Nashville’s Derek Roy notched two assists … Dallas’ Trevor Daley scored his first non-power play goal of the year.

Did You Know?: The San Jose Sharks were really close to tying the Vancouver Canucks at the end of regulation?

Dishonorable Mention: New Jersey’s Patrick Elias’ goal scoring drought continued. He hasn’t lit the lamp since the season-opener on Oct. 9 … Jussi Jokinen was a minus-3 for the Panthers … Minnesota’s Niklas Backstrom made 14 saves on 17 Ottawa shots on goal in the loss … the Edmonton Oilers have lost four games in a row … San Jose’s Antti Niemi stopped just 16 of 19 Canucks shots on goal … Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby didn’t pick up a point and is now tied with Jakub Voracek for the NHL scoring lead with 19 points. Oh the agony, for Crosby, of being great.