NHL Three Stars: Price leads Habs; Isles, Sharks win stunners

No. 1 Star: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

The Habs were missing three players and were still stinging from the brutal injury to Lars Eller in their Game 1 loss. They needed a strong performance out of Price, and they got one: He made 29 saves in their 3-1 victory to even the series with the Ottawa Senators, 1-1.

No. 2 Star: Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

He didn’t score a goal, but he factored in on two key ones. Burns tipped a point shot onto Roberto Luongo in the first period that led to Joe Thornton’s opening goal. Then, in overtime, Burns perfectly orchestrated a 2-on-1 with Raffi Torres, passing over to the Sharks forward for the game-winner at 5:31. San Jose won, 3-2, to take a 2-0 series lead.

No. 3 Star: Michael Frolik, Chicago Blackhawks

Frolik scored the opening goal in the first and added a second goal in the second on the penalty kill, as the Chicago Blackhawks cruised to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. Patrick Sharp also had two goals. Corey Crawford made 26 saves.

Honorable mention: Kyle Okposo’s fluke goal in at 12:23 of the third period helped the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins to even their series. Sidney Crosby scored twice. Matt Moulson had a goal and an assist for the Isles. Evgeni Malkin had 10 shots on goal. … Brendan Gallagher scored his second of the playoffs for Montreal. … Ryan Kesler had two goals. … Patrick Marleau tied the game with 56 seconds left in regulation.

Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues; 2. Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks; 3. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks; 4. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins; 5. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins; 6. Alex Steen, St. Louis Blues; 7. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators; 8. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens; 9. Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks; 10. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

Dishonorable mention: Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise were both minus-3. … Erik Condra, Jared Cowen, Marc Methot and Colin Greening were a minus-2. … Alex Edler was a minus-2. … The Wild defense allowed 47 shots on Josh Harding. …