No. 1 Star: Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
With no Ryan Suter and no Pekka Rinne, the Nashville Predators weren't quite themselves, falling 3-0 on goals by Dan Girardi, John Mitchell, and Ryan Callahan. That said, it might not have mattered on this night. Lundqvist was unbeatable, making 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season.
No. 2 Star: Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils
Kovalchuk scored twice in the Devils' 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, once on a breakaway to open the scoring late in the first and again on the powerplay midway through the second. He's now scored 7 goals in his past 6 games -- good news for the Devils, who have also won 5 of 6 during that span. David Clarkson added a goal as well, on a pretty nifty toe drag:
No. 3 Star: P.A. Parenteau, New York Islanders
In the end, the Islanders didn't need either of his goals because the Capitals never scored and only mustered 17 shots, but Parenteau added two insurance markers -- one in the second, and another in the third -- as New York cruised to a 3-0 win over the Washington. Evgeni Nabokov picked up the shutout.
Honorable Mention: James Neal scored the shootout winner as the Pittsburgh Penguins knocked off the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-1. Evgeni Malkin also scored this pretty goal. Quick hands:
Cam Ward deserved better, after making 40 saves to keep the Hurricanes in it ... Derek Mackenzie scored the game-winner less than a minute into the third as the Columbus Blue Jackets rally from down two goals in their 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers ... Jaromir Jagr picked up two assists and Sean Couturier scored the game-winner shorthanded as the Philadelphia Flyers routed the Minnesota Wild 5-1 ... Craig Anderson made 37 saves, and Kyle Turris picked up an assist and a game-winner as the Ottawa Senators edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Matthew Lombardi went 8-for-8 on faceoffs ... The Tampa Bay Lightning got a goal and an assist from each of Ryan Malone and Dominic Moore en route to a to three-goal third period and a 5-3 win over the Boston Bruins ... The Detroit Red Wings got by the Dallas Stars 3-2 in a shootout. Jiri Hudler scored the 2-2 goal midway through the second, then added the shootout winner on that drag move that, clearly, they practice in Detroit:
... Mike Richards scored the shootout winner in the Los Angeles Kings' 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Dustin Penner had a great game, with eight hits and a goal ... After Torrey Mitchell scored the 1-1 goal midway through the third period, Brent Burns scored the shootout winner in the San Jose Sharks' 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.
Did you know? Claude Giroux, Brent Burns and Paul Martin both picked up their 200th career points Tuesday.
Dishonorable Mention: With a chance to take over top spot in the Southeast Division, the Capitals mustered only 17 shots versus the Islanders. A better performance might have been preferable.