Saturday, 10 March 2012

Saturday’s Three Stars: Smith blanks Sharks; Kostitsyn’s pair sinks Wings; Giroux’s pretty shootout winner ()

No. 1 Star: Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes Smith's career year continued as his 42-save night helped the Coyotes to a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. The shutout was Smith's fifth of the season and 16th of his career, while the win was his 30th. Rookie defenseman Michael Stone scored his first NHL goal and added an assist as the Coyotes stayed two points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for seventh in the Western Conference. No. 2 Star: Andrei Kostitsyn, Nashville Predators Having cornered the market on Kostitsyns, the Predators were aided by their presence in the lineup as Andrei and his brother Sergei hooked up on a pair of power play goals as Nashville beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Sergei set up both of Andrei's goals as AK-46 upped his production to three goals and six points in five games since being traded the Predators. David Legwand assisted on all three goals and Pekka Rinne made 35 saves. No. 3 Stars: Kari Lehtonen, Dallas Stars / Jonas Gustavsson, Toronto Maple Leafs / Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia Flyers In captain Brenden Morrow's return from an 18-game absence due to injury, his goal would be more than enough as the Stars would drop the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. Lehtonen made 21 saves for his third shutout of the year and 20th of his career. Gustavsson (27 saves) and Bryzgalov (29 saves) combined for the double shutout as Philadelphia needed just this sick Claude Giroux goal in the shootout to win 1-0: