from Adam Kimelman of NHL.com,

After eight series, 47 games and a record 17 overtime sessions, eight teams have advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs....

NHL.com gathered nine staff writers and each was asked to name his 3 Stars of the first round of the playoffs.

The voting produced an interesting trend -- the nine writers picked a total of nine players, with seven receiving multiple votes. And while some could argue the voting results skew toward Eastern Conference players, more Western Conference players received votes.

8. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings -- 2 points

A lesser player would have been crushed by a giveaway like the one Quick had in overtime of Game 1 to gift-wrap a St. Louis Blues win. Quick shrugged it off, and after a loss in Game 2, he reminded everyone why he won the Conn Smythe Trophy last year.

Quick turned the tide in the series with a 30-save shutout in Game 3, and he allowed six goals in the final three games, but managed to improve each time. He let in three goals in Game 4, two in Game 5 -- including a smooth recovery after allowing the tying goal with 44.1 seconds left in the third period -- and just one on 22 shots in Game 6.

read on for the other seven players...