CROSBY, DUBNYK AND BURNS NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ FOR MARCH
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk and San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March.
FIRST STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Crosby led all players with 14 assists and 21 points in 16 games to power the Penguins (44-25-8, 96 points) to a 12-4-0 March, tied for their second-most wins in any calendar month in franchise history. He registered at least one point in 15 of his 16 appearances, including a 12-game point streak to open the month (Feb. 29 – March 20: 6-14—20). Crosby also posted six multi-point performances and added two game winning goals – March 17 vs. CAR and March 27 at NYR (OT) – to lift the Penguins into second place in the Metropolitan Division. The 28-year-old Cole Harbour, N.S., native ranks third in the NHL with 32-48—80 in 76 games this season. That includes a League best 23-30—53 in 40 contests during the calendar year.
SECOND STAR – DEVAN DUBNYK, G, MINNESOTA WILD
Dubnyk went 10-2-1 with a 2.06 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and one shutout in 14 appearances to propel the Wild (38-29-11, 87 points) to a 10-4-1 March, one win shy of the franchise record for any calendar month. He yielded two or fewer goals in nine of his 14 outings, highlighted by a 29-save shutout March 26 against the Colorado Avalanche – the Wild’s closest competition in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The 29-year-old Regina, Sask., native became the third goaltender in club history to reach the 30-win milestone; he owns a 32-23-6 record with a 2.30 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and five shutouts in 63 games this season.
THIRD STAR – BRENT BURNS, D, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Burns shared second place in the NHL in both assists (13) and points (19) in 16 games to guide the Sharks (43-29-6, 92 points) to a 9-7-0 March and their 11th playoff berth in the last 12 seasons. He collected at least one point in 12 of his 16 contests, including seven multi-point performances (as well as three straight to close the month). In doing so, the 31-year-old Barrie, Ont., native set career highs and single-season franchise records for goals (27), assists (46) and points (73) by a defenseman. Overall, Burns paces NHL blueliners in goals while ranking second in both assists and points in 78 games this season.
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
National Hockey League Press Release. Information provided from the NHL that describes various news releases that describe current events in the league.