NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban and Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March.
FIRST STAR — SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
CENTER – PIT
GOALS: 15 | ASST: 41 | PTS: 56
SOG: 124 | +/-: 26
Crosby led the League with 19 assists and 25 points as the Penguins became the first team in NHL history to post a perfect calendar month (minimum, 10 games). He also tied linemate Pascal Dupuis for first in the League with a +19 rating. Crosby recorded points in 12 of 15 games, including eight multi-point efforts, and had two point streaks of five or more games. He also matched a career high with five assists against the New York Islanders March 10, becoming the only active player with more than one five-assist game in his career (his other such game was 12/13/06 vs. Philadelphia). The 25-year-old Cole Harbour, N.S., native leads the NHL with 41 assists and 56 points in 36 games this season. He also ranks second in the League with a +26 rating and 14 power-play assists.
SECOND STAR — P.K. SUBBAN, D, MONTREAL CANADIENS
Subban led all defensemen with 18 points (7-11—18) in 14 games and paced all skaters with 11 power-play points (4-7—11). He collected points in nine of 14 games, including seven multi-point outings, and recorded a career-high three assists at the Florida Panthers March 10 — a number he then matched against the New York Rangers March 30. Subban’s seven goals were the most in one month by a Canadiens defenseman since Mathieu Schneider had seven in February 1994. The 23-year-old Toronto, Ont., native leads all NHL blueliners with 10 goals and ranks third among defensemen with 27 points in 28 games this season. His six power-play goals are tied for first among defensemen, while his 18 power-play points rank third in the League overall.
THIRD STAR — SERGEI BOBROVSKY, G, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
GOALIE – CBJ
RECORD: 12-8-6
GAA: 2.13 | SVP: 0.927
Bobrovsky led the NHL with three shutouts and also ranked second in wins (nine), goals-against average (1.49) and save percentage (.950) as Columbus posted its most successful month in franchise history (10-2-4). He allowed one goal or fewer in 10 of his 14 appearances, recording his first career shutout against the Detroit Red Wings March 9. Bobrovsky made 30 or more saves on seven occasions and tied his season high with 39 stops in consecutive games — a 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks March 14 and a 1-0 shootout victory over the Phoenix Coyotes March 16. The 24-year-old Novokuznetsk, Russia, native is 12-8-6 in 26 games this season, ranking second in the League with a .927 save percentage and eighth with a 2.13 goals-against average.