NHL Three Stars Of Week

Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Philadelphia Flyers right winger Wayne Simmonds have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 8.

FIRST STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Ovechkin led for the League in goals and points (7-0--7) as the Capitals opened the season with two victories. On Oct. 5, Ovechkin notched his 18^thcareer hat trick in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Ottawa Senators. Two nights later he matched a career high by scoring four times in a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. With hat tricks in each of the Capitals’ first two games, Ovechkin became the fourth player in NHL history and first since 1917-18 to record hat tricks in each of his team’s first two games of a season. His seven goals give the Moscow, Russia, native 565 for his career, good for 22^nd on the all-time list of NHL regular-season goal scorers.

SECOND STAR – MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, G, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Fleury went 2-0-0 with a 0.98 goals-against average and a .973 save percentage as the Golden Knights opened the season with two victories. Fleury began the week by making 45 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars Oct. 6 in the first ever regular-season game in franchise history. On Oct. 7, he stopped 27 shots in a 2-1 overtime win over the Arizona Coyotes, giving him 377 career victories -- good for 15th on the all-time NHL wins last. The 32-year-old Sorel, QC, native was the first overall selection in the 2003 NHL Draft by Pittsburgh, for whom he won three Stanley Cups in 13 seasons.

THIRD STAR – WAYNE SIMMONDS, RW, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Simmonds tied for second in the League in goals with four (4-0--4) -- including two game-winners -- as the Flyers began the season with two victories in three starts on the road. On Oct. 4, Simmonds recorded his second career hat trick -- including the game-winning goal -- in a 5-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. After being blanked in a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Oct. 5, Simmonds finished the week by notching the overtime game-winner as the Flyers defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2, on Oct. 7. The 29-year-old Scarborough, ON, native was the 61st overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft by Los Angeles and is entering his 10^th NHL season, seventh with the Flyers. He has recorded 402 points (206-196--402) in 690 games played.

(NHL PR)