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NHL Three Stars: Anze Kopitar plays hero for Kings over Rangers
No. 1 Star: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Kopitar scored at 15:50 of the third period – double-checked by a coach’s challenge – and then won a faceoff and tipped home a goal at 1:34 of overtime as the Kings defeated the New York Rangers, 4-3. Kopitar now has 24 goals on the season.
No. 2 Star: Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
Benn was dominant in the Stars’ 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Benn tied the game in the second period, assisted on Stephen Johns’s first of the season to tie it again in the third and then scored the game-winner just 2:08 after that. Benn now has 36 goals on the season.
No. 3 Star: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins star helped lead a rally from a 2-0 deficit as Pittsburgh defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2. Crosby scored an unassisted goal in the first period to cut the lead to 2-1. After Phil Kessel tied the game, Crosby notched goal No. 31 on the season to give the Penguins the lead and the win. Matt Murray stopped 31 shots for the win.
Honorable Mention: Devante Smith-Pelly had two goals and an assist in the New Jersey Devils’ 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. Mike Sislo scored the first two goals of his NHL career. Tyler Kennedy had three assists. … Jimmy Howard made 27 saves and back-stopped the Red Wings to a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jeff Carter had three points. … Jussi Jokinen scored two goals off of Toronto Maple Leafs’ players’ sticks, as the Florida Panthers defeated the Leafs, 4-1. Jaromir Jagr scored goal No 24. … The Nashville Predators had a goal and an assist from Ryan Johansen and James Neal in their 4-2 win over the slumping New York Islanders. … Mike Smith made 27 saves and Shane Doan had the game-winner in the Arizona Coyotes defeated the San Jose Shark, 3-1.
Did You Know? The Red Wings had not had a lead after the 1st period since Feb. 10 - a span of 17 games. (AP)
Dishonorable Mention: Ryan Murphy was a minus-3. … Jason Garrison was a minus-3. … Justin Fontaine, Mikael Granlund, Nate Prosser, Marco Scandella and Nino Niederreiter were all a minus-3. … Devan Dubnyk was chased on the first period after giving up three goals on eight shots.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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