NHL Daily Recap: Kings defeat Calgary, 3-0

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KINGS BEAT CALGARY, 3-0

Jonathan Quick stopped all 21 shots he faced to guide the Kings to their second win in their last three contests and back into first place in the Pacific Division.  Quick also equaled a career high and team record with his 39th win of the campaign (2.20 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO), a mark he established in 2009-10.

At 46-26-5 (97 points), Los Angeles matched its franchise record for victories in one season, last achieved in 2013-14 (46-28-8, 100 points).

Kings forward Jeff Carter (2-1—3) posted a multi-goal game.

McDAVID NAMED NHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, who led all rookies with 11 assists and 16 points in 15 games, has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for March.

McDavid, 19, edged Buffalo Sabres teammates Sam Reinhart (4-8—12 in 15 GP) and Jack Eichel (6-4—10 in 14 GP), Arizona Coyotes left wing Anthony Duclair (3-7—10 in 14 GP), and St. Louis Blues center Robby Fabbri (3-6—9 in 12 GP) for the honor.

McDavid, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, picked up at least one point in 11 of his 15 March appearances, highlighted by a seven-game point streak March 14-26 (1-9—10). He also registered five multi-point performances, led by a pair of goals – including the overtime winner – in his first NHL meeting with Eichel, the No. 2 overall pick last year, March 1.

McDavid paces all rookies – and ranks third in the NHL – with an average of 1.07 points per game this season (15-30—45 in 42 GP). McDavid also won Rookie of the Month honors in October (5-7—12 in 12 GP) and February (5-12—17 in 14 GP).

NHL NAMES "THREE STARS" OF THE MONTH

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk and San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March.

FIRST STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Crosby led all players with 14 assists and 21 points in 16 games to power the Penguins (44-25-8, 96 points) to a 12-4-0 March, tied for their second-most wins in any calendar month in franchise history. He registered at least one point in 15 of his 16 appearances, including a 12-game point streak to open the month (Feb. 29 – March 20: 6-14—20). Crosby also posted six multi-point performances and added two game-winning goals – March 17 vs. CAR and March 27 at NYR (OT) – to lift the Penguins into second place in the Metropolitan Division. The 28-year-old Cole Harbour, N.S., native ranks third in the NHL with 32-48—80 in 76 games this season. That includes a League-best 23-30—53 in 40 contests during the calendar year.

SECOND STAR – DEVAN DUBNYK, G, MINNESOTA WILD

Dubnyk went 10-2-1 with a 2.06 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and one shutout in 14 appearances to propel the Wild (38-29-11, 87 points) to a 10-4-1 March, one win shy of the franchise record for any calendar month. He yielded two or fewer goals in nine of his 14 outings, highlighted by a 29-save shutout March 26 against the Colorado Avalanche – the Wild’s closest competition in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The 29-year-old Regina, Sask., native became the third goaltender in club history to reach the 30-win milestone; he owns a 32-23-6 record with a 2.30 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and five shutouts in 63 games this season.

THIRD STAR – BRENT BURNS, D, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Burns shared second place in the NHL in both assists (13) and points (19) in 16 games to guide the Sharks (43-29-6, 92 points) to a 9-7-0 March and their 11th playoff berth in the last 12 seasons. He collected at least one point in 12 of his 16 contests, including seven multi-point performances (as well as three straight to close the month). In doing so, the 31-year-old Barrie, Ont., native set career highs and single-season franchise records for goals (27), assists (46) and points (73) by a defenseman. Overall, Burns paces NHL blueliners in goals while ranking second in both assists and points in 78 games this season.

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS

• The Penguins (idle) will clinch a playoff berth if the Red Wings lose to the Wild in any fashion OR if the Bruins lose to the Blues in any fashion.

• The Rangers (idle) will clinch a playoff berth in the Bruins lose to the Blues in regulation AND the Red Wings lose to the Wild in any fashion.

• The Predators (idle) will clinch a playoff berth if the Avalanche lose to the Capitals in regulation.

WILD CARD HOPEFULS MEET IN DETROIT

Two teams battling for playoff spots face off when the Wild (38-29-11, 87 points) visit the Red Wings (38-28-11, 87 points) at Joe Louis Arena. Minnesota, who currently occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, is trying to bounce back after seeing its six-game winning streak snapped on Thursday. Detroit, the first club on the outside of the postseason picture in the Eastern Conference, also is looking to rebound from a loss as it attempts to extend its 24-season playoff streak.

This marks the second and final meeting of 2015-16 between these teams.  The Wild won their first matchup, 3-1, on Dec. 28 at Xcel Energy Center, but the Red Wings own a 3-1-1 record in their past five head-to-head games dating to March 22, 2014 (MIN: 2-1-2).

FRIDAY’S ACTION (All Times Eastern)

Minnesota @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., NHLN-US, FS-N, FS-D+
Boston @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., NESN, FS-MW
Chicago @ Winnipeg, 8:00 p.m., CSN-CH, TSN3
Washington @ Colorado, 9:00 p.m., CSN-DC, ALT
Vancouver @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., SNP, PRIME, FS-SD

THURSDAY’S RESULTS (Home Team in Caps)

BUFFALO 4, Toronto 1
NY ISLANDERS 4, Columbus 3
PITTSBURGH 5, Nashville 2
CAROLINA 4, NY Rangers 3
Montreal 3, TAMPA BAY 0
FLORIDA 3, New Jersey 2
Ottawa 3, MINNESOTA 2
DALLAS 4, Arizona 1
LOS ANGELES 3, Calgary 0
Vancouver 4, SAN JOSE 2

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services