PRICE, PAQUETTE AND DUBNYK NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette and Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 1.
FIRST STAR – CAREY PRICE, G, MONTREAL CANADIENS
Price posted a 3-0-0 record with a 0.66 goals-against average, .980 save percentage and two shutouts to backstop the Canadiens (32-14-3, 67 points) to three victories in four outings. He made 40 saves in a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars Jan. 27, marking his second 40-plus save performance of the season (also Dec. 12 vs. LAK: 44 saves). Price then notched a pair of 1-0 shutouts, registering 24 saves in a victory over the New York Rangers Jan. 29 and 36 saves in an overtime triumph against the Washington Capitals Jan. 31. The 27-year-old Anahim Lake, B.C., native has appeared in 39 games this season, sharing second in the NHL with 27 wins while also placing in the top five in save percentage (2nd; .933), goals-against average (3rd; 2.03) and shutouts (t-5th; 4). Price now has 29 career shutouts, all with the Canadiens, tying Patrick Roy for fifth in franchise history.
SECOND STAR – CEDRIC PAQUETTE, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Paquette led the NHL with five goals, finding the back of the net in all three of his games to help the Lightning (32-15-4, 68 points) maintain first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. He scored his sixth goal of the season in a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Jan. 27. Paquette then recorded his first career hat trick, including the game-winning marker, in a 5-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings Jan. 29. With his performance, Paquette became the first rookie to post a hat trick against the Red Wings since Dec. 18, 1993 (Oleg Petrov). He capped the week by notching his third career game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Jan. 31. The 21-year-old Gaspe, Que., native has 10-6—16 in 41 games this season, including 5-4—9 in his past 10 outings.
THIRD STAR – DEVAN DUBNYK, G, MINNESOTA WILD
Dubnyk went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .967 save percentage and one shutout to lead the Wild (23-20-6, 52 points) to three victories in as many starts. He made 23 saves in a 2-1 triumph over his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, Jan. 27. Dubnyk then stopped all 30 shots he faced to record his 11th career shutout (third this season) in a 1-0 win over the Calgary Flames Jan. 29. He closed the week with 35 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Feb. 1, leading the Wild to their second all-time sweep of a trip through Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver (also March 13-17, 2007). The 28-year-old Regina, Sask., native has appeared in 26 games this season, compiling a 14-6-2 record. That includes a 5-1-0 mark with a 1.71 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and two shutouts in seven contests since joining the Wild Jan. 14.
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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