MARCH 3•STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
NHL Three Stars: Edmonton Oilers Goalie and a Pair of Nashville Predators Stand TallThe top standouts in the NHL this week feature a pair of goaltenders on the Oilers and Predators winning crucial games for their team in the...
Ryan McDonagh - Solid showing in Saturday's winMcDonagh picked up two assists while adding a team-high four blocked shots in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Avalanche.
ImpactThe veteran blueliner is having his best stretch of the campaign as the Predators push for a playoff spot. Over the last eight games, McDonagh has a goal and eight points along with 17 blocked shots and a plus-9 rating. With 101 blocks through 55 games, the 34-year-old has reached triple digits in that category for the 11th time in his 14 NHL seasons.
MARCH 3•ROTOWIRE
Tommy Novak - Two-point effort against AvsNovak scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Avalanche.
ImpactAfter having a hand in the eventual game-winner by Cody Glass late in the second period, Novak potted his own tally midway through the third as the Predators pulled away. Novak's been on a roll over the last month, producing five goals and 13 points over the last 13 games despite a third-line assignment and a spot on the second power-play unit.
MARCH 3•ROTOWIRE
Cody Glass - First career hat trickGlass scored three goals including the game-winner in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Avalanche.
ImpactThe 24-year-old notched his first career hat trick with a goal in each period. Glass' six shots on net were also a season high, and while the sixth overall pick in the 2017 Draft is still struggling to make his mark in the NHL, he's been healthy and productive since the All-Star break, amassing four goals and seven points over that last 10 games.
MARCH 3•ROTOWIRE
Juuse Saros - Cruises to sixth straight winSaros turned aside 25 shots in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Avalanche.
ImpactNathan MacKinnon got a puck past him late in the first period, but Saros shut the door the rest of the way as the Predators' offense took control. The 28-year-old netminder has won six straight starts and hasn't allowed more than two goals in any of them, posting a stellar 1.34 GAA and .954 save percentage over that stretch. It's been a bumpy season for Saros overall, but he appears to be heating up at the right time for Nashville's playoff chances.
MARCH 3•ROTOWIRE
Alexandar Georgiev - Mauled by NashvilleGeorgiev stopped 30 of 34 shots in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Predators, with Nashville's final goal coming into an empty net.
ImpactIt seems as though Georgiev's struggles in February have followed him into March. The 28-year-old netminder has given up more than three goals four times in his last nine starts, going 4-4-1 over that stretch with a 2.91 GAA and .906 save percentage. He's still tied with Thatcher Demko for the NHL lead in wins at 31 and his starting job doesn't appear to be in much jeopardy, but Georgiev may need to turn things around if the Avs are going to make a push for the top seed in the Western Conference.
MARCH 3•ROTOWIRE
Devon Toews - Logs helper in lossToews had an assist, three shots on net, one block and two penalty minutes in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Predators.
ImpactToews broke up a Nashville foray and cleared the zone to Mikko Rantanen who set up Nathan MacKinnon for the Avalanche's lone score. The top-pair defenseman hit the scoresheet for the third straight game and has three goals and three assists over the last nine contests. Through 62 games, Toews has 11 goals, 24 assists, 118 shots, 93 blocks, 56 hits and 16 PIM.
MARCH 3•ROTOWIRE
