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NHL Three Stars: Jagr nets a pair; Tavares hands out three helpers

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand

No. 1 Star: Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers

He may be 43-years old, but Jagr still has it. No. 68 scored twice, including the eventual game-winner as the Panthers doubled up the Ottawa Senators 4-2. Jagr is now two points away from Ron Francis for 4th all-time (1,796) & 11 goals from Marcel Dionne for 4th all-time (731). His second goal came in vintage Jagr fashion:

No. 2 Star: Jason Chimera, Washington Capitals

Chimera scored twice 2:59 apart in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and guide the Capitals to a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers. Chimera hadn’t scored in 21 games for Washington. Alex Ovechkin had a pair of his own and now sits one goal away from his sixth consecutive 50-goal season. The Capitals have now won four of their last six games.

No. 3 Star: John Tavares, New York Islanders 

A wild first period saw six goals in the opening 9:54, but things calmed down as the Islanders edged the Detroit Red Wings 5-4. Tavares recorded three assists as New York won for the first time in seven tries at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders capitalized on three of their four power play opportunities and are now tied with Pittsburgh for second in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins hold a game in hand.

Honorable Mention: David Pastrnak’s goal 4:23 into overtime gave the Boston Bruins a crucial second point in their 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Pastrnak assisted earlier on Ryan Spooner’s seventh of the season. Tuukka Rask made 30 saves as the Bruins now sit three points ahead of Ottawa and four ahead of Florida for the East’s final wildcard spot:

Jiri Hudler tallied his 28th of the season and assisted on two others as the Calgary Flames got by the Nashville Predators 5-2 and swept the three-game season series. Lance Bouma put home a pair and Michael Ferland scored his first career NHL goal in the win … John Gibson made 26 saves and Francois Beauchemin’s 10th of the season early in the third period stood as the winner as the Anaheim Ducks beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1. Gibson, who won for the fourth time in five starts, was aided by saves like this one on Adam Henrique:

Jonathan Toews’ goal with 30.8 seconds left in regulation snapped a 3-3 tie and helped defeat the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. The win moves Chicago back into the third spot in the Central Division.

The Pittsburgh Penguins blew a 2-0 first period lead, but goals from David Perron and Sidney Crosby in the shootout helped them by the San Jose Sharks 3-2. In overtime, Pittsburgh killed off Patric Hornqvist's double minor to help get them to the shootout and their second win in as many days. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and birthday boy Max Lapierre was 13-for-14 in the face-off circle.

Did You Know? “The Islanders have their most wins since they had 50 victories in 1983-84.” (AP)

Dishonorable Mention: The Rangers have now lost three out of four games … Carolina has dropped five of their last six games against Boston … Petr Mrazek was pulled after allowing four goals on 11 shots … Patrick Sharp scored the tying goal after an unfortunate meeting betwee the linesman and Toby Enstrom’s stick along the boards:

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