Rinne, Kapanen, Phaneuf named our 'Three Stars of the Night'

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog "The Neutral Zone" has named Pekka Rinne, Kasperi Kapanen, and Dion Phaneuf as their 'Three Stars of the Night' for all NHL Playoff games taking place on April 15, 2017.

FIRST STAR - PEKKA RINNE, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Rinne became 1st goalie to record 2 assists AND a shutout in a playoff game since Tom Barrasso in 1993 DSF vs New Jersey (Game 2).

SECOND STAR - KASPERI KAPANEN, F, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Kapanen scored his second goal of the game at 11:53 of 2OT to help the Maple Leafs tie their series at 1-1. Kapanen is the eighth Maple Leafs rookie w/ a playoff OT goal (last: Gerry Ehman, Game 3 of 1959 SF vs. Boston). Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Kapanen (20 y, 266 d) is 2nd-youngest player in Maple Leafs history w/ a playoff OT goal (Jack McLean: 20 years, 51 days in 1943).

THIRD STAR - DION PHANEUF, F, OTTAWA SENATORS

Phaneuf  (1-2—3) scored in overtime as Ottawa tied its series, overcoming a 3-1 3rd period deficit.

Dion Phaneuf traded to Senators by Maple Leafs

"The Neutral Zone" Trade Report

Dion Phaneuf

The Ottawa Senators have acquired defenseman Dion Phaneuf, forwards Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, and Ryan Rupert and defenseman Cody Donaghey from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Jared Cowen, forwards Colin Greening, Milan Michalek and Tobias Lindberg, plus Ottawa’s second-round pick in the 2017 draft.

No salary will be retained by either team.

More info to come when we get updates.