NHL Three Stars Of The Week

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, New Jersey Devils left wing Ilya Kovalchuk and St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak have been named the NHL’s ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending March 11. FIRST STAR – ILYA BRYZGALOV, G, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Bryzgalov posted a 3-0-0 record, 0.65 goals-against average and .979 save percentage in three starts as the Flyers (39-22-7, 85 points) earned six out of a possible eight points. He began the week by making 37 saves in a 3-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings March 6. Bryzgalov then recorded back-to-back shutouts, making 28 stops in a 5-0 win against the Florida Panthers March 8 and 29 saves, plus another two in the shootout, in a 1-0 victory at the Toronto Maple Leafs March 10. The Togliatti, Russia native hasn’t allowed a goal in 136:13 dating to the third period of Tuesday’s game against Detroit. He is 27-13-6 with a 2.59 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and five shutouts in 49 appearances during his first season with the Flyers. SECOND STAR – ILYA KOVALCHUK, LW, NEW JERSEY DEVILS Kovalchuk led all skaters with five goals and nine points as the Devils (40-24-5, 85 points) won four consecutive games. He had a goal and an assist in 4-1 victory against the New York Rangers March 6, recorded his 13th career hat trick in a 5-1 win against the New York Islanders March 8, collected an assist on the game-winning goal in 2-1 decision at the New York Islanders March 10 and closed the week with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers March 11. The Tver, Russia native has scored at least 30 goals in nine consecutive NHL seasons, making him only the third player born outside North America to accomplish that feat. He is sixth in the League with 71 points (30 goals, 41 assists) and has 11-20—31 and a +8 rating in 21 games since the All-Star break. THIRD STAR – JAROSLAV HALAK, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES Halak went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage as the Blues (45-18-7, 97 points) won four straight to move into first place in the League standings. He made 19 saves in a 5-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks March 6, 24 stops in a 3-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks March 8 and 33 saves in a 2-1 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets March 11. Halak has won a career-high eight consecutive games dating to Feb. 23, allowing no more than two goals in any of those starts. The Bratislava, Slovakia native ranks second in the NHL with a 1.84 goals-against average and has a 24-10-5 record with a .928 save percentage and six shutouts in 40 appearances.