Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen and Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 25.
FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS
McDavid paced the NHL with five goals and 10 points in four games (5-5—10) to move into first place in the Art Ross Trophy race and propel the Oilers (34-36-6, 74 points) to a 3-0-1 week. He collected one assist in a 7-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes March 20 followed by 2-2—4, his third four-point performance of the season, in a 6-2 triumph against the Ottawa Senators March 22. McDavid then scored twice, including the winning goal, in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings March 24. In doing so, he leapfrogged Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov – who had held the outright lead since Dec. 12 – for first place in the NHL scoring race. McDavid closed the week with 1-2—3 in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks March 25. The 21-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner paces the League with 39-60—99 in 76 contests this season. He is aiming to become the first repeat Art Ross Trophy winner since Jaromir Jagr won four straight scoring titles from 1997-98 through 2000-01 (w/ PIT).
SECOND STAR – JAKE ALLEN, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Allen went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .961 save percentage to help the Blues (42‑28‑5, 89 points) extend their winning streak to five games and move into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He made 21 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins March 21, followed by 19 stops in a 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks March 23. Allen finished the week with 33 saves in a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets March 24, also pushing his personal winning streak to five contests (1.97 GAA, .921 SV%). The 27-year-old Fredericton, N.B., native owns a 26-21-2 record with a 2.68 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout in 53 appearances this season.
THIRD STAR – KYLE CONNOR, LW, WINNIPEG JETS
Connor registered 4-2—6, including a pair of overtime goals, in three games as the Jets (46-19-10, 102 points) went 3-0-0 to clinch their third playoff berth in franchise history. He scored twice, including the overtime winner, in a 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings March 20 and again notched the overtime goal in a 3-2 triumph versus the Anaheim Ducks March 23. In doing so, Connor joined Andrew Cogliano (2007-08 w/ EDM) as the only rookies in NHL history to score regular-season overtime goals in consecutive team games. Connor capped the week with 1-2—3, his third three-point effort of the season, in a 5-4 shootout victory against the Nashville Predators March 25. The 21-year-old Shelby Township, Mich., native shares first place among rookies with 29 goals and ranks fifth among first-year skaters with 50 points (29-21—50) in 69 outings this season.
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