Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price and Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 3.
FIRST STAR – BLAKE WHEELER, RW, WINNIPEG JETS
Wheeler led the NHL with 2-8—10, including a trio of three-point performances, in four contests to propel theJets (17-6-4, 38 points) to a 3-0-1 week and the top of the Western Conference standings. He recorded 1-2—3 in a 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild Nov. 27. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 29, Wheeler bounced back with three assists in a 7-4 win against the Vegas Golden Knights Dec. 1. He then capped the week with 1-3—4, his League-leading third four-point effort of the season, in a 5-0 triumph over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 3. The 31-year-old Plymouth, Minn., native paces the NHL with 28 assists and ranks fourth in the League with 35 points through 27 games this season.
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SECOND STAR – CAREY PRICE, G, MONTREAL CANADIENS
Price went 4-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .950 save percentage to help the Canadiens (13-12-3, 29 points) post a perfect week and extend their win streak to five games overall. He yielded one goal in each of his first two outings, making 37 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Nov. 27 and 27 stops in a 2-1 triumph against the Ottawa Senators Nov. 29. Price then earned consecutive wins against the Detroit Red Wings, recording 28 saves in a 6-3 victory Nov. 30 and 22 stops in a 10-1 triumph Dec. 2. The 30-year-old Anahim Lake, B.C., native – who has won all five of his starts since returning from injury Nov. 25 – is 8-7-1 in 16 appearances this season (2.93 GAA, .905 SV%, 1 SO).
THIRD STAR – RADEK FAKSA, C, DALLAS STARS
Faksa registered a League-best five goals (5-2—7) and +7 rating (tied) in four games to power the Stars (16-10-1, 33 points) to a 4-0-0 week. He scored his first career hat trick, with all three goals coming in a 6:46 span of the second period, in a 3-0 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights Nov. 28. Faksa then posted 1-1—2, his fifth multi-point outing of the season, in 4-3 overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Nov. 30. He added one goal in a 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks Dec. 2 and one assist in a 7‑2 triumph against the Colorado Avalanche Dec. 3. The 23-year-old Vitkov, Czech Republic, native ranks fifth on the Stars with 10-6—16 in 26 contests this season.
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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