No. 1 star: Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks
Sami Salo not only returned from two games off a rejuvenated skater, but with a flair for the dramatic as well. His drive from the right point late in regulation was tipped by Daniel Sedin into the goal to send the game to overtime where the veteran defenseman Salo slipped down to the left dot and one-timed a power-play goal past Chris Osgood as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Salo spread three shots over his 31 shifts and 22:12 of ice time.
No. 2 star: Brandon Dubinsky, New York Rangers
The second-year forward snapped out of a 14-game goal-less drought by scoring his fifth goal of the season that snapped a 1-1 tie and sent the New York Rangers on to a 4-1 victory over the slumping Phoenix Coyotes. Dubinsky also added an assist and three shots on goal during 17:02 of ice time on a night New York tied Boston for the top spot in the East.
No. 3 star: Mike Knuble, Philadelphia Flyers
The veteran forward scored two goals, including a tie-breaker at 14:52 of the third period to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the lowly Dallas Stars. Knuble has found the scoring touch recently as he has five points on the strength of four goals and one assist in four games.
Honorable mention: Canucks backup goalie Curtis Sanford figures to see plenty of action with Roberto Luongo out. He made 32 saves Monday night for a confidence-boosting win over Detroit. … Nikolai Zherdev collected three assists for the Rangers. … Dallas' Mike Modano is two points shy of 1,300 for his career after a two-goal game in Philly. … Bill Guerin scored the shootout winner for the Isles in Montreal. … Two more power-play goals for Anaheim's Teemu Selanne. … Cal Clutterbuck, and you've just got to love that name, scored two goals for the Wild.
Dishonorable mention: Ryan O'Byrne threw a puck right into his own net shortly after the Canadiens' goalie was lifted on a delayed penalty, and much booing ensued in Montreal. It was only the tying goal for the Islanders late in the third period. … Phoenix has scored three goals or less in all but six of its 20 games this season. … The Hurricanes have been more like a light wind, scoring two or fewer goals in nine of their last 10 games.
