NHL 3 Stars: Hat trick for Tavares; Oilers break franchise single-game shots record

Intense.

No. 1 Star: John Tavares, New York Islanders

Tavares was the difference in a 5-1 defeat over the New Jersey Devils. Seriously. he had 4 points, and 4 which is the difference between 5 and 1. It's basic math. Tavares took over this game in the second period, scoring 2 of his 3 goals and adding an assist on a Matt Moulson goal. Moulson also had a 4-point night, finding himself in on every Tavares scoring play, as you might expect.

No. 2 Star: Ben Scrivens, Toronto Maple Leafs

Missing Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, and Erik Karlsson, the Ottawa Senators still put in a valiant effort versus the Leafs, firing 34 shots on Scrivens. But Scrivens wouldn't be beat. He stopped them all for the first NHL shutout of his career in a 3-0 triumph.

No. 3 Star: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Benoit Pouliot played the hero, scoring the overtime goal in a 6-5 win over the Florida Panthers, but it was Stamkos that put this game into extra time, scoring a beautiful one-timer to cut the Panthers' lead in half midway through the third, then making this gorgeous, no-look pass to Teddy Purcell for the game-tying goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation:

Stamkos finished with 2 goals an an assist in the game. Teddy Purcell also had a 3-point night.

Honourable mention: Rookie Brendan Gallagher had a great night for the Montreal Canadiens, with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Pretty move for the goal, too, as he pulls the puck back unexpectedly on Kimmo Timonen then fires it through his legs:

... Martin Hanzal gave the Phoenix Coyotes their final 2 goals in a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Keith Yandle had 3 assists... Shea Weber scored his 1st of the season for the Nashville Predators in a loss 3-2 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Viktor Fasth made 32 saves to move to 8-0-0 to start his career (and 4-0 in shotoouts) and Patrick Maroon scored his first NHL goal for the Ducks in the win... In a remarkable comeback win versus the Avalanche, the Edmonton Oilers broke a franchise record for shots in a game with 56. It was set in 1986. Edmonton trailed this game 4-1 at one point. Thanks in no small way to Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall, who each had 3-point nights, and Ales Hemsky, who scored Saturday's prettiest goal, they won 6-4. Here's Hemsky:

Did you know? Steven Stamkos has scored a goal in 7 straight games versus the Florida Panthers. The last guy to do that was Mario Lemieux.

Dishonourable mention: The Panthers lost their third straight in overtime, after giving up a late, game-tying goal for the second straight game... Colton Orr had 12:51 in Toronto, which would be insanely ridiculous if the Leafs hadn't won. But they did, so it's just regular ridiculous... P.J. Stock's collar looked silly... Andrew Cogliano had his stick snap in half on his shootout attempt in Nashville, which is pretty much the worst... Seriously, Colorado? 56 shots?