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Stanley Cup Playoffs Three Stars: OT drama in Tampa; Sutter power Penguins

Stanley Cup Playoffs Three Stars: OT drama in Tampa; Sutter power Penguins

No. 1 Star: Dale Weise, Montreal Canadiens

The Habs forward was in the right place at the right time – 18:08 of OT – when Daniel Briere hit him with a pass from behind the net. Weise snapped a shot past a frozen Anders Lindback for the 5-4 victory in Game 1 of Montreal’s series vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning.

No. 2 Star: Brandon Sutter, Pittsburgh Penguins

Sutter’s wrist shot at 8:18 of the third period beat Sergei Bobrovsky and gave the Pittsburgh Penguins their only lead of the night – and the game-winning goal in their 4-3 victory. Sutter also won 53 percent of his faceoffs.

No. 3 Star: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Even in a losing effort, Stamkos was awesome in Game 1 vs. Montreal. He skated 27:31, scored two goals and was dangerous on almost every shift.

Honorable mention: Ryan Getzlaf and Matt Beleskey had a goal and an assist each as the Anaheim Ducks held off a Dallas Stars’ rally for a 4-3 victory. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin scored in the losing effort. Frederik Andersen made 32 saves in his playoff debut. … Jack Johnson had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets. … Brian Gionta had a goal and an assist for the Habs. Alex Killorn had the same for the Bolts.

Dishonorable mention: Kris Letang struggled for the Penguins, with no points and a minus-1 and four penalty minutes. … Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz were minus-2. … Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan were minus-2 with no points. … Bobrovsky was outplayed by Marc-Andre Fleury, which probably can’t happen if the Jackets want to advance.