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NHL Three Stars: Enroth, Pickard shine in the crease

Greg Wyshynski
Former New York Islander Billy Smith enters the ice to drop the first ceremonial puck before an NHL hockey game between the Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Uniondale, N.Y. Smith won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Former New York Islander Billy Smith enters the ice to drop the first ceremonial puck before an NHL hockey game between the Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Uniondale, N.Y. Smith won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

No. 1 Star: Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres goalie made 43 saves, including 20 in the second period, as Buffalo topped the Washington Capitals, 2-1. Torrey Mitchell had the game-winner.

No. 2 Star: Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

Benn finally exploded offensively, scoring two goals and assisting on John Klingberg’s in the first period as the Stars held off the Los Angeles Kings, 5-4. Justin Williams had two goals in the loss.

No. 3 Star: Calvin Pickard, Colorado Avalanche 

Pickard earned his first NHL victory with 17 saves on 17 shots in relief of Reto Berra, who was pulled after giving up three first-period goals. Erik Johnson, Jarome Iginla and Zach Redmond rallied the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Nathan MacKinnon assisted on all three.

Honorable Mention: Brian Elliott made 24 saves while Vladimir Tarasenko scored goal No. 12 in the St. Louis Blues’ 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. … Tyler Bozak had a shorthanded goal and an empty netter in the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 4-1. … Ben Bishop made 30 saves and Steven Stamkos scored his 14th in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. … John Tavares had a goal and an assist in the third period as the New York Islanders completed a home and home sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1. … Braydon Coburn had a goal and an assist while Jakub Voracek had two assists in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. … Fliip Forsberg had the lone goal in the shootout as the Nashville Predators topped the Florida Panthers, 3-2. … Curtis Glencross had two goals, including the game-tying tally with less than five seconds left in regulation, as the Calgary Flames defeated Scott Clemmensen the New Jersey Devils in a shootout, 5-4. … Jonathan Toews had two goals and Marian Hossa had four points in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 7-1 rout of the Edmonton Oilers. … Antoine Vermette had a goal in regulation and the winner in the shootout as the Arizona Coyotes defeated the San Jose Sharks, 4-3. … Carey Price pitched a 33-save shutout to beat the Boston Bruins.

Did You Know? The Bruins dressed five rookies: forwards Matt Fraser, Seth Griffith, Alexander Khokhlachev and Matt Lindblad, and defenseman Joe Morrow.

Dishonorable Mention: Gustav Nyquist, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Johan Franzen were minus-3. … Justin Faulk was a minus-3 and a minor penalty. … Andy Greene was a minus-3. … Ben Scrivens and Reto Berra were both yanked. … Taylor Hall and Teddy Purcell were a minus-3.