Stanley Cup playoffs three stars Faksa Lehtonen le from seestyle's blog

The Stars knew the much larger Blues would come out and be physical against them in Game 1of the teams'second-round Western Conference playoff series.The Stars did not shrink from the challenge. They shut out the Blues for more than 2 1/2 periods before prevailing in anincredibly physical final 10 minutes and winning 2-1 to go up 1-0 in the best-of- Houston Astros Custom Jersey sevenseries.MORE: "We played them as hard as we could on the physical front," Dallascoach Lindy Ruff told reporters afterward.CenterRadek Faksa a sisted on the first Stars goal, then stuck in the game-winner with 4:44to play in the third period. Dallas Keuchel Jersey Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen notched 31 saves for the win. Battlingfor playing time withAntti Niemi, Lehtonen's performance had to give him and Ruff confidence in his ability to get the job done against St Louis.MORE: Kudos also to Blues netminder Brian Elliott, who had 40 saves in a losing cause.In Friday'slate game, the Sharks exploded for five goals in the third period for a 5-2 win over the Predators in the opener of the other West series.The Predators led 1-0 after two periods, but the Sharkstied the score five minutes into the third on a power-play goal by Tomas Hertl, and Joel Ward added another goal midway through the period for a 2-1 lead. After the teams traded goals a Justin Verlander Jersey few minutes later, the Sharks picked up a couple of empty-net goals in the last couple of minutes to make the final score look like an easy win.GENTILLE: The teams briefly skirmished after the final horn,the Predators no doubt frustrated by what happened in the final 20 minutes. Nashville will be looking for payback when the teams meet for Game 2 on Sunday in San Jose.Three stars3. Kari Lehtonen, Stars Lehtonen collected 31 saves, many on close-in shots, to preserve the Stars' 2-1 victory.2. Radek Faksa, Stars The 22-year-old center picked up an a sist on the Stars first goal then punched home the game winner in Brian McCann Jersey the third period.1.Logan Couture, Sharks The center scored two goals in the third period, one on a power play, the other an empty netter, to help San Jose hold off the Predators. Right wing Joel Ward also had a fine night with a goal and an a sist.HighlightElliott makes an initial save on Faksa's shot, butAntoine Rou sel grabs the carom and sticks it home to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.Saturday's game to watchPenguins at Capitals, Game 2, 8p.m. ET, NBC(Capitals lead1-0): Capitals right winger T.J. Oshie likely won't score a hat trick again with the game-winner comingin overtime, as he did Thursday. And it's unlikely the Capitals will hold Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to Evan Gattis Jersey a single shot on goal and a minus-3 performance again.The Penguins desperately need to steal one on the Caps' home ice to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole.In the other game, the Lightning host the Islanders(3 p.m., NBC), with the Islanders up 1-0 in the series.