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Stanley Cup Playoffs Three Stars: MacKinnon rules Wild; OT heroes for Jackets, Blues

Stanley Cup Playoffs Three Stars: MacKinnon rules Wild; OT heroes for Jackets, Blues

No. 1 Star: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon’s ankle-breaking goal tied the game. He assisted on Gabriel Landeskog’s two goals to grab the lead, and on Paul Stastny’s empty netter to end it. The Avalanche won 4-2 taking a 2-0 series lead over the Wild as MacKinnon had a 4-point night. He now has seven points in two games, tying the NHL record for most pts in first 2 playoff games of an NHL career.

No. 2 Star: Matt Calvert, Columbus Blue Jackets

Calvert scored a key shorthanded goal to close the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lead to 3-2 and then, in double OT, scored the game-winning goal to give the Jackets their first ever playoff win. Columbus knotted the series at 1-1.

No. 3 Star: Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

With due respect to overtime hero Barret Jackman, it was Tarasenko’s power-play goal with six seconds left that propelled the Blues into OT where they eventually won over the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3, taking a 2-0 series lead.

Honorable mention: Paul Stastny had a 4-point night as well for the Avs, building his on Conn Smythe resume after his Game 1 heroics. … Brent Seabrook had a goal and an assist and something you’ll read about in dishonorable mentions. … Kevin Shattenkirk had a goal and two assists. … Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist. … Brian Gibbons of the Penguins scored two goals in just 2:26 of ice time, leaving the Penguins game after a collision behind the net with a Jackets player. … Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves after giving up three goals on 15 shots in the first.

Did You Know? Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby earned two assists in the first, moving him into third on the franchise's all-time postseason points list with 108. (NHL.com)

Dishonorable mention: Fedor Tyutin was injured for the Jackets, playing less than seven minutes. … Ilya Bryzgalov was pulled after giving up three goals on 14 shots. … Blake Comeau had three minor penalties vs. Pittsburgh. … The Penguins were 1-for-8 on the power play. … Finally, Brent Seabrook will have a hearing over the phone with the NHL after this head-shot on David Backes.