Friday’s Three Stars: Giroux, Couturier shine for Flyers; Kings stun Canucks again

• Country music star Vince Gill tells everyone how he feels about Todd Bertuzzi. (AP)

No. 1 Star: Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers

Giroux had a night to remember recording his first career playoff hat trick and chipping in three helpers for a Flyers franchise-record 6-point night as they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 8-5 to take a 2-0 series lead. Philadelphia once again fell behind in the first period, but tied the game at four by the end of the second and completed the victory with four goals in the final frame.

No. 2 Star: Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers

The rookie Couturier also notched his first career playoff hat trick and added an assist for a 4-point night:

No. 3 Star: Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

Both of Brown's goals came shorthanded as the Kings downed the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. In his career, Brown has only compiled three shorthanded tallies. Jonathan Quick put up another strong performance making 46 saves. The last Kings player to record a hat trick in the playoffs was Wayne Gretzky in 1993.

Honorable mention: The New Jersey Devils built up a 3-0 first period lead and held on to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 and take a 1-0 series lead. Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus and Ryan Carter each scored for New Jersey to help earn Martin Brodeur (24 saves) his 100th career playoff victory. Brodeur is second all-time in that category behind Patrick Roy who has 151. Before tonight, the last Panther playoff game ended up as Brodeur's 38th career playoff win, back in 2000 ... Detroit built a 2-0 first period lead thanks to goals from Ian White and Cory Emmerton and didn't look en route to even their series with Nashville 1-1 with a 3-2 victory ... Shea Weber answered for his slamming of Henrik Zetterberg's head into the glass in Game 1 by fighting Todd Bertuzzi early in the first period ... Including the regular season, the Red Wings have killed 37 straight power plays ... The Flyers are 17-0 in their history when going up 2-0 in a series ... Via the AP, Sidney Crosby's goal 15 seconds into the game tied the Penguins' franchise record for fastest goal to start a playoff game, set by Greg Malone against the St. Louis Blues in 1981 ... Pascal Dupuis recorded an assist and has points in his last 19 games ... Ilya Bryzgalov robbed Kris Letang and the Penguins the opportunity of going up 3-0 in the first period.

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings; 2. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers; 3. Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings; 4. Martin Havlat, San Jose Sharks; 5. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins; 6. Mike Richards, Los Angeles Kings; 7. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; 8. Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes; 9. Patrik Berglund, St. Louis Blues; 10. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers.

Dishonorable mention: Florida was outshot 26-9 in the first period ... Finally, Scottie Upshall would like this check attempt back: