By Rob Rossi

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013, 8:21 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 1, 2013

• Sidney Crosby had quite a February. Not quite good enough, though, to earn the NHL's No. 1 star. That honor went to Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos, who tied for the NHL lead with 10 goals and recorded 20 points. He scored a goal in six straight games. Stamkos was top in goals (14) and points (31) before games Friday. The goal lead provided Stamkos a tiebreaking edge on Crosby in the scoring race. Over 14 games, Crosby registered 18 assists and totaled 24 points. He amassed three points on six occasions. Crosby was the No. 2 star for February. Chicago goalie Ray Emery (7-0-0, 1.66 goals-against average) was third.

• The team did not provide updates on injured defenseman Paul Martin (undisclosed lower-body injury) or center Evgeni Malkin (concussion). Martin did not finish a loss at Carolina on Thursday night. He also did not practice Wednesday, though coach Dan Bylsma said then Martin simply was given a day off. Malkin had skated without contact at the Penguins' practice facility at Southpointe on Wednesday and Thursday. His concussion symptoms had subsided, Bylsma said Thursday. Malkin will not play Saturday night.

• The Penguins failed to score a power-play goal Thursday, snapping a 12-game streak. They just missed tying the 2007-08 squad's achievement of 13 consecutive games with a power-play goal (Feb. 2-26, ‘08). Those Penguins went 8-2-3 over that stretch. The Penguins were 8-4-0 on their run.

• The Penguins and Maple Leafs were the only two clubs without an overtime or shootout loss in February.

— Rob Rossi

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