NHL Three Stars: Eriksson shines for Stars; Kane continues MVP push

No. 1 Star: Loui Eriksson, Dallas Stars

The perpetually underrated winger scored two goals to lead the Stars back from their thrashing at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks over the weekend, defeating the Calgary Flames, 4-3. Eriksson scored his eighth in the first period to build the Dallas lead to 3-0. Two Calgary goals in the second closed the gap, but Eriksson’s goal at 12:06 of the third gave them the cushion they needed.

No. 2 Star: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Kane’s MVP campaign continued, as he scored a goal and two assists in a 5-2 “revenge” victory against the Colorado Avalanche, who previously ended the Blackhawks’ points streak. Kane assisted on goals by Jimmy Hayes and Brent Seabrook, and scored his 16th of the season. Say, who called a three point night for Patrick Kane?

No. 3 Star: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles

Quick made 27 saves for the shutout, as the Kings crowned the Phoenix Coyotes, 4-0. Goals by Jake Muzzin, Tyler Toffoli (his first), Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter (his 18th) stood up.

Honorable mention: The New York Rangers got shootout goals by Rick Nash and rookie J.T. Miller, defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in the skills competition, 2-1. … Teddy Purcell’s third-period goal proved to be the game-winner as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2. Steven Stamkos had an assist and his 21st goal. … Emerson Etem scored his first NHL goal and added an assist, as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the San Jose Sharks, 5-3. Francois Beauchemin had two goals. Ryan Getzlaf had a shorthanded goal. Patrick Marleau scored his 15th in the loss. … The Minnesota Wild won for the first time in 12 games in Vancouver, topping the Canucks, 3-1. Pierre-Marc Bouchard had two assists. … Ray Emery moved to 11-0-0 on the season for Chicago.

Did you know? The Stars honored former C Guy Carbonneau, who skated in Dallas from 1995-2000 and helped the club win its only Stanley Cup in 1999, as part of its all-time team. (AP)

Dishonorable mention: Shane O’Brien was a minus-3, as was P.A. Parenteau. … Vancouver was dominated in faceoffs, 68 percent for the Wild to 32 percent. … Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Andrew Desjardins and Matt Irwin were all a minus-2. … Cody Eakin laid a hit on Matt Stajan that Bob Hartley called “one of the dirtiest hits that I've seen.”