Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo and Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 8.
FIRST STAR – JAMIE BENN, LW, DALLAS STARS
Benn led the NHL with seven goals, including a pair of hat tricks, and eight points in three games to power theStars (42-32-8, 92 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He registered his third career hat trick, including the winning goal, in a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks April 3. Benn then posted 1-1—2 in a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks April 6. He closed the season with another hat trick, as well as the winning goal, in a 4-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings April 7. In doing so, Benn became the seventh player in Stars/North Stars history to record two hat tricks within a span of three team games and the first to accomplish the feat since Bill Guerin from Oct. 29 – Nov. 2, 2003. The 28-year-old Victoria, B.C., native paced Dallas with 36-43—79 in 2017-18 (82 GP), including 8-2—10 during a season-ending, five-game point streak.
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SECOND STAR – ROBERTO LUONGO, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS
Luongo went 3-0-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in four appearances to help the Panthers (44-30-8, 96 points) become the 13th team in NHL history to earn five wins in seven days. He made 27 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes April 2 and matched a season high with 45 stops in a 2-1 triumph against the Nashville Predators April 3. Luongo then played in his 1,000th NHL game April 5 – becoming the third goaltender in League history to reach the milestone – and turned aside 26 shots for a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. He added eight saves in a relief effort as part of a 4-2 victory against the Bruins April 8. The 39-year-old Montreal native went 18-11-2 in 35 outings in 2017-18 (2.47 GAA, .929 SV%, 3 SO), climbing to fourth in NHL history with 471 career wins.
THIRD STAR – CLAUDE GIROUX, C, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Giroux ranked second in the NHL with 5-2—7 in three games to propel the Flyers (42-26-14, 98 points) to their eighth playoff berth in the past 11 seasons. He collected 1‑1—2 in each of his first two contests, a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders April 3 and a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes April 5. Giroux then helped Philadelphia clinch its playoff berth with his first career regular-season hat trick (738 GP) in a 5-0 triumph against the New York Rangers April 7. The 30-year-old Hearst, Ont., native finished second in the NHL with 34-68—102 in 2017-18 (82 GP), becoming the first member of the Flyers to reach the 100-point milestone since Eric Lindros in 1995-96 (47-68—115).
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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