Every night throughout the playoffs, SportsLine.com will choose the top stars of each game. Here are our picks for tonight.

Other April stars of the night

Jochen Hecht, LW, St. Louis Blues

Jochen Hecht(Allsport)

The 22-year-old rookie, one of only two German-born players in the NHL, got his club off to a quick start, scoring two goals and assisting on a third to lead the top overall team in the league to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Hecht, who scored two goals in five playoff games last year after being a late-season call-up, scoffed at the notion that he might be hockey's version of Reggie Jackson's "Mr. October." "I wouldn't say that, " Hecht said. "But I think my experience last year helped."

Curtis Joseph, G, Toronto Maple Leafs

Curtis Joseph(AP)

Toronto has one of the most potent offenses in the league, but most experts feel that the only way the team will go deep in the playoffs is if goaltender Curtis Joseph is on top of his game. Joseph was in the opener of Toronto's series against Ottawa, turning back 30 shots to record his ninth career playoff shutout as the Leafs stopped the Senators 2-0. "It's a fine line when it comes to the playoffs," Toronto captain Mats Sundin said. "The teams were evenly matched, and CuJo was the difference. He had a great game, as usual."

Roman Lyashenko, C, Dallas Stars

Roman Lyashenko(AP)

The Dallas Stars opened their defense of the Stanley Cup with a lineup that included eight players who weren't around when the team carried the trophy around the ice at Buffalo last spring. Among the newcomers was 20-year-old Roman Lyashenko, who immediately made his presence felt by scoring the winning goal with less than nine minutes remaining in the third period to give Dallas a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said he had no hesitation about using the rookie, describing Lyashenko as a "big-game player." That's why I wanted him out there," Hitchcock said. "Lyashenko is a competitor."