NHL Three Stars Of Week

Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk, Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson and Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O’Reilly have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 29.

 

FIRST STAR – DEVAN DUBNYK, G, MINNESOTA WILD

 

            Dubnyk went 4-0-0 with a 1.22 goals-against average and .962 save percentage to lead the Wild (44-25-7, 95 points) to four consecutive victories, including their franchise-record 10th straight on the road. He opened the week with 35 saves in a 2-1 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs March 23. Dubnyk followed that performance by stopping 37 shots – and all three attempts he faced in the shootout – in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders March 24. He capped the week with victories on consecutive days, making 23 saves in a 4-2 triumph over the Calgary Flames March 27 and 31 stops in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings March 28. The 28-year-old Regina, Sask., native has won a career-high 35 games while ranking second in the NHL with a 2.05 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in 53 appearances this season. That includes a 26-6-1 record with a 1.70 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and five shutouts since joining the Wild Jan. 15.

 

SECOND STAR – CAM ATKINSON, RW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

 

Atkinson shared first in the NHL with four goals, ranked second with seven points and led the League with a +6 rating as the Blue Jackets (36-35-4, 76 points) won all three of their games, including their franchise-record eighth consecutive on the road. He registered a pair of assists in a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks March 24. Atkinson then recorded his second career hat trick in a 5-2 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks March 27. He closed the week with 1-1—2, reaching the 20-goal milestone for the second time, in a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues March 28. The 25-year-old Riverside, Conn., native has 20-17—37 in 71 appearances this season, three points shy of his career high established in 2013-14. That includes 7-5—12 in his past 10 games, during which the Blue Jackets have gone 9-1-0.

 

THIRD STAR – RYAN O’REILLY, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

 

            O’Reilly led the NHL with seven assists and eight points to power the Avalanche (35-28-12, 82 points) to two victories in four starts. He set up both goals in a 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames March 23. O’Reilly then factored on all three goals, recording 1-2—3, in a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers March 25. He again collected two assists in a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks March 26 before wrapping up the week with one helper in a 5-3 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres March 28. The 24-year-old Clinton, Ont., native and reigning Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner has 14-38—52 in 75 outings this season. That includes 4-8—12 during a seven-game point streak, equaling a career high established Oct. 12-24, 2009 (2-7—9).