NHL Three Stars Of Week

FIRST STAR - ERIC STAAL, C, MINNESOTA WILD
Staal paced the NHL with 4-3-7 in four games to propel the Wild (35-20-7, 77 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Central Division. He collected one assist in a 5‑3 win over the New York Islanders Feb. 19, followed by one goal in a 4-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils Feb. 22. Staal then registered 2-2-4, his 13th career four-point performance and first since March 8, 2015 (0-4-4 w/ CAR), in a 4-1 triumph over the New York Rangers Feb. 23. He capped the week with his 30th goal of the season, reaching the milestone for the first time since 2010-11 and sixth time overall, in a 3-2 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks Feb. 25. The 33-year-old Thunder Bay, Ont., native shares seventh place in the NHL with 30 goals and ranks 20th overall with 59 points in 62 contests this season (30-29-59).



SECOND STAR - PEKKA RINNE, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Rinne went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .970 save percentage and one shutout to lift the Predators (38-14-9, 85 points) back atop the Central Division standings. He made 36 saves in a 5-2 triumph over the Ottawa Senators Feb. 19. Rinne then turned aside 33 shots in a 7-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks Feb. 22, becoming the third Finnish-born goaltender in NHL history to record 300 wins. He closed the week by making 27 saves for his 49th career shutout in a 4-0 triumph over the St. Louis Blues Feb. 25. The 35-year-old Kempele, Finland, native has appeared in 45 games this season, ranking in the top five among goaltenders in wins (t-2nd; 32), shutouts (t-2nd; 6), goals-against average (5th; 2.27) and save percentage (5th; .929).



THIRD STAR - RYAN GETZLAF, C, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Getzlaf placed second in the NHL with 2-5-7 in four outings as the Ducks (31‑21-12, 74 points) earned five of a possible eight standings points to maintain third place in the Pacific Division. He posted one assist in a 2-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights Feb. 19, followed by 1-1-2 in a 2-0 win over the Dallas Stars Feb. 21. After being held off the scoresheet in a 2-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes Feb. 24, Getzlaf bounced back with 1-3-4 (his 18th career four-point effort) in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers Feb. 25. The 32-year-old Regina, Sask., native sits second on the Ducks with 9-33-42 this season (40 GP) despite missing 24 games due to injury.