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NHL Three Stars: Bruins win Presidents' Trophy; Smyth's farewell

NHL Three Stars: Bruins win Presidents' Trophy; Smyth's farewell

Considering the season the Oilers have had, this sign from tonight’s game reads super sarcastic. 

No. 1 Star: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Price was flawless Saturday versus the New York Rangers, stopping 41 shots, and he had to be, as this game went into overtime before Brian Gionta's penalty shot made it a 1-0 overtime victory for the Habs:

With the win, the Canadiens leapfrogged the Lightning, their first-round playoff opponent, for home-ice advantage. Tampa Bay has a chance to win it back in their season-closer on Sunday.

No. 2 Star: Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers

Voracek was in on all three of the Flyers' regulation goals versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring twice, then assisting on Claude Giroux's goal late in the third. It was a typically wacky Battle of Philadelphia, with scuffles galore and high drama: the Flyers and Pens traded goals in the final two minutes before going to overtime to settle things. There, Mark Streit scored to give the Flyers a 4-3 win and a 4-1 win in the season series.

No. 3 Star: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

Pavelski became just the third player this season to hit 40 goals in the Sharks' 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring early in the first period. Then, for good measure, he added another midway through the frame.

Honorable mention: The Boston Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1, clinching the Presidents' Trophy in the process. David Krejci scored twice... Craig Anderson made 28 saves for the shutout and Jason Spezza scored the game-winner in a 1-0 Ottawa Senators' victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs... Ryan Johansen's 33rd of the year was the deciding goal as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Florida Panthers, 3-2... Mike Fisher's 3 assists led the way as the Nashville Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-5 on the strength of a five-goal third period... Devante Smith-Pelly scored his second of the season and the shootout winner as the Anaheim Ducks edged the Los Angeles Kings, 4-3... Prior to announcing his retirement to the public, Ryan Smyth told his teammates, in a video aired on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday night:



The Oilers won their final game for Smyth, 5-2 over the Canucks. Taylor Hall had 3 assists in the victory. Sadly, the Oilers couldn't get Smyth a goal, despite an absurd 7:10 of powerplay time.

Did You Know? James Reimer's not long for Toronto:

Dishonorable mention: Zack Kassian scored with 10 seconds to go in Ryan Smyth's final game. As if Edmonton needed more reasons to hate him... If the Blackhawks are hoping to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, they may want to tighten up defensively. I understand they're not really playing for much these days, but seriously, when you surrender five goals against to the Nashville Predators, you need to tighten up... Mark Streit's overtime winner is exactly the sort of goal you don't want to see Marc-Andre Fleury giving up the weekend before the playoffs: