No. 1 star, Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks:
Kris Versteeg's size is listed as 5-feet-9 and 159 pounds – certainly small by any standards – but that hasn't prevented the 22-year-old from coming up big this season for Chicago. The Lethbridge, Alberta, native added another chapter to his outstanding rookie season on Wednesday night by scoring a goal in regulation and the deciding marker during the shootout as the Blackhawks beat the visiting Hurricanes for the first time since April of 1999. Versteeg's 18th goal of the season came at 17:08 of the second period to tie the game 1-1. He scored on a wrist shot during the fourth round of the shootout to decide it. Versteeg had a team-high seven shots, was credited with two takeaways and won two of three draws during 20:31 of ice time.
No. 2 star, Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators:
The strong two-way forward scored on a rebound 2:38 into overtime to enable the Senators to cap an eight-game homestand with a fourth straight victory. Fisher had time to control the rebound of a shot by teammate Chris Phillips and scored his 11th goal of the season from the slot. A plus-1 with two shots, Fisher was credited with a team-high five hits and he won 13 of 24 draws while skating just eight seconds short of 23 minutes.
No. 3 star, Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks:
The Ducks' captain beat Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo on a semi-breakaway goal during 3-on-3 skating 3:37 into overtime to enable struggling Anaheim to snap a three-game losing streak. Niedermayer was all over the score sheet as usual. A plus-2 with a team-high five shots, Niedermayer blocked one shot, was credited with two hits and one takeaway during 30:17 of ice time.
Honorable mention: Ottawa's Jason Spezza picked up his 400th career point in his 388th game. Rookie goalie Brian Elliott stopped 22 shots for a fourth straight win. Daniel Alfredsson and Phillips picked up two assists apiece. … Cam Ward had 39 saves for Carolina. … Chicago's Joel Quenneville coached his 900th career game. … Anaheim newcomers Ryan Whitney and Erik Christensen contributed two assists each while Jonas Hiller made 32 stops. … Canucks' captain Luongo was very good as well in making 37 saves.
Dishonorable mention: The Lightning lost a fourth straight game and for the 15th time in 19 outings. … Chicago's Dave Bolland lost an edge in front of his net and fanned on a clear, a missed opportunity that led to Carolina's late-regulation tying power-play goal. Of course Bolland probably wouldn't have found himself in that situation if Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews hadn't taken a hooking minor 63 seconds before the end of regulation.
