NHL Three Stars Of Week

St. Louis Blues right wing T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 4.

 

FIRST STAR – T.J. OSHIE, RW, ST. LOUIS BLUES

 

Oshie paced all players with five goals and shared the League lead with seven points to power the Blues (23-13-3, 49 points) to two wins in four starts. He collected one assist in a 3-0 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche Dec. 29. Oshie then found the back of the net in a pair of losses – a 3-2 defeat to the Nashville Predators Dec. 30 and a 4-3 decision to the Anaheim Ducks Jan. 2. He capped the week by registering his second career hat trick (also March 27, 2014 vs. MIN) and second career four-point performance (also Nov. 14, 2013 vs. COL: 0-4—4), notching 3-1—4 in a 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Jan. 3. He also potted his 19th career game-winning marker (third this season) and eclipsed 100 NHL goals (101-174—275 in 402 GP) in that contest. The 28-year-old Everett, Wash., native has compiled 10-10—20 in 31 outings this season, including 5-3—8 during a five-game point streak.

 

SECOND STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, RW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

 

            Ovechkin recorded 1-1—2 in all three of his games, totaling 3-3—6 to lead the Capitals (20-11-7, 47 points) to five out of a possible six standings points. He helped the team erase a three-goal, third-period deficit in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders Dec. 29, scoring the tying goal with 2:41 left in the third period. Ovechkin then powered the Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Jan. 1, picking up the primary assist on Troy Brouwer’s game-winning marker with 12.9 seconds remaining in regulation. The Capitals captain closed the week with his third straight multi-point performance – the first time he has achieved that feat since March 21-24, 2013 – in a 4-3 triumph over the Florida Panthers Jan. 4. The 29-year-old Moscow, Russia, native shares sixth in the NHL with 19 goals this season (19-15—34 in 38 GP), including 7-6—13 in his past 12 outings.

 

THIRD STAR – CAREY PRICE, G, MONTREAL CANADIENS

 

            Price went 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average and .952 save percentage to backstop the Canadiens (26-11-2, 54 points) to four straight victories and first place in the Eastern Conference. He opened the week by making 28 saves in a 3-1 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 29. Price then stopped 22 shots in a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils Jan. 2, earning his 200th career win in his 400th NHL appearance. He capped the week by recording 30 saves in a 4-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins Jan. 3. The 27-year-old Anahim Lake, B.C., native shares second in the NHL with 22 wins this season, compiling a 2.14 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and two shutouts in 32 appearances. He also has won five straight games, his second such run of the season (also Oct. 16-28), totaling a 1.20 goals-against average and .959 save percentage during the current stretch.

(NHL Media)