No. 1 Star: Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks
The ageless wonder scored both of the Ducks' goals in their 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, clinching a playoff berth for Anaheim. His wrister with 14:06 left in the game held up, thanks to a 23-save effort from Dan Ellis. Selanne will join Gordie Howe and Johnny Bucyk as the only players in NHL history to "play an entire season at age 40 or older with more points than games played," according to the AP. The fans chanted "one more year" after the game; who can blame them?
No. 2 Star: Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
The rookie opened the scoring in this critical game with his 31st goal of the season, and added two assists in the Canes' 6-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers, moving Carolina into a tie with the New York Rangers for the No. 8 seed. The Hurricanes can make the playoffs if they defeat Tampa Bay on Saturday night or if the Devils beat the Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
No. 3 Star: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
The Predators keeper made 44 saves as Nashville clinched a playoff spot with a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Said Coach Barry Trotz after the game: "I would say he's probably the best goaltender in the National Hockey League." Patric Hornqvist had two goals and an assist in the win.
Honorable mention: The Buffalo Sabres clinched a playoff berth with a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, as Nathan Gerbe scored twice (including a goal of the year candidate) and Thomas Vanek completed a 3-point night with an OT goal. Danny Briere scored goal No. 33 in the loss. Ryan Miller returned for Buffalo in the third period after missing the previous four games. … The Dallas Stars remained alive in the West with a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Brenden Morrow scored his 32nd for the game-winner, and Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist. … The Chicago Blackhawks remained two points up on the Stars with a 4-2 win at the Detroit Red Wings, getting first-period goals from Brent Seabrook, Ben Smith (his first NHL goal) and Brian Campbell. Marian Hossa had a goal and a helper. … Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata each had a goal and an assist as the Phoenix Coyotes clinched a playoff spot with a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Joe Thornton picked up his 1,000th NHL point in the loss. … Oddity for the Minnesota Wild: Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard assisted on all three of their goals in a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, sweeping the season series against the Oil. … Vinny Lecavalier scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot, as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers, 4-2. … In their first game on Long Island since that nasty game in February that saw multiple suspensions, the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the New York Islanders in the shootout, 4-3. Chris Kunitz had the game-winner. Travis Hamonic scored with 35 seconds left to force OT for the Isles, who received two goals from Blake Comeau. The refs were aggressive in keeping the peace. … Finally, mazel tov to Blake Geoffrion for his first NHL fight, on home ice no less:
And after 30 years, Paul Lorieau sang his last anthems for the Oilers. Fare thee well, sir:
Did you know? This is the first time the Sharks, Ducks and Kings have all made the Stanley Cup playoffs in the same season.
Dishonorable mention: The Islanders had a goal waived off with their goalie pulled on a strange call against John Tavares, who was standing behind Marc-Andre Fleury but didn't impede him. … Tomas Kopecky was hit in the side of the head with a deflected shot and left the game in the third. Joel Queneville said Kopecky was OK afterwards. … Vernon Fiddler, Brad Boyes and Evander Kane were all a minus-3. … Finally, there was a chaotic 1:19 stretch between the Oilers and the Wild in the first period. Steve MacIntyre was given an instigator and a game misconduct for fighting Brad Staubitz after he hit Magnus Paajarvi;
Then, Cal Clutterbuck was given a 5-minute boarding major and a 10-minute misconduct, which sparked another melee and 47 penalty minutes between the teams:
As Michael Russo wrote: "Before Friday's first period was 10 minutes old, the teams combined for 96 penalty minutes, including six majors, two game misconducts and four 10-minute misconducts. The 122 penalty minutes in the game by both teams is a Wild record."