4 Stars
#1 -Eric Staal (F - CAR) - Staal is a man on fire this week. He followed up his 4 point performance on Tuesday with a 5 point performance last night. He staved off Montreal's invitation to the playoffs for another night by posting 3 goals and 2 assists, including the game winner. He was a +4 on the night.
#2 -Sidney Crosby (F - PIT) - Crosby appeared to have cracked the 50 goal marker last night, but he insisted Guerin deflected it, so he had to be satisfied with #49. His 4 points put him within striking distance of the Art Ross with 2 games to play. He now has 500 points in his young career.
#3 -Tuukka Rask (G - BOS) - Rask stopped 31 of 32 shots to all but lock up a playoff spot for the Bruins. Rask has also ensured his role as the starting goalie heading into the playoffs, should they qualify.
#4 - Jonas Hiller (G - ANA) - Even though he ultimately lost the game in a shootout, Hiller made an impressive return from injury by making a whopping 49 saves. After losing Beauchemin and Pronger, and likely losing Niedermeyer this summer, the Ducks have gone from the best D in the league to one of the worst. Bad news for Hiller going into next season.
Injury Update:
- Jaroslav Spacek returned after missing 3 games will illness
- The Sabres played again without Tomas Vanek. Tim Connolly also missed action with a foot injury.
- Niklas Backstrom (G-MIN) left the game after getting hit in the throat by a slap shot.
- Martin Havlat and Marek Zidlicky are questionable for the Wild's contest with Dallas tomorrow
- Marian Hossa is questionable for tonight
- Milan Michalek returned last night after missing significant time for the Sens
Fantasy Notes:
- Chad LaRose came alive with 2 goals and 2 assists for his first ever 4-point performance. Sign of good things to come for the Canes next season?
- Steven Stamkos scored 1 goal to stay one behind Crosby for the goal scoring title. He now has 48.
- Bill Guerin scored twice and added an assist for the Pens.
- Evgeni Malkin returned from illness to score a goal
- After a miserable 6 game point draught, Bobby Ryan has returned to form in April. His 2 goals last night give him 6 points in 4 games this month.
- Roberto Luongo and Sami Salo sat out for the Canucks, since the team is locked into 3rd place
- Henrik Sedin had one assist to extend his league-leading point total to 108. He's 2 ahead of Ovechkin and 4 ahead of the red hot Crosby
- Bad news for the Kings as Jonathan Quick can't buy a win. His loss last night marked his 7th straight start without a win.
- The Coyotes rested several key players, including Ilya Bryzgalov and Ed Jovanavski
- Evgeni Nabokov passed up Martin Brodeur for the lead in wins. Nabokov is up to 43.