Sidney Crosby is heating up at the right time for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the wrong time for the rest of the NHL.
No. 87 was named the NHL's first star for the month of March, the league announced Friday. Crosby had 21 points in 16 games - and at least a point in 15 of those 16 games - as the Penguins marched to a 12-4 record.
Crosby's now up to third in league scoring, and has more points than any player in 2016 - 53 (20 goals) in 40 games.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk was named March's second star, thanks to a 10-2-1 record and .927 save percentage in a crucial month for his team.
Dubnyk's followed up on his breakthrough 2014-15 season with a solid campaign for the Wild, becoming a 30-game winner for the first time in his career and tying his career high with five shutouts.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns was named third star for the month of March, helping his club clinch a playoff spot.
Burns' 13 assists and 19 points ranked second among all players in March. He's having a career season on the blue line in San Jose, setting a club record for goals in a campaign by a defenseman (27).
