HALAK, CALLAHAN AND RAMO NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK
New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Ryan Callahan and Calgary Flames goaltender Karri Ramo have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 30.
FIRST STAR – JAROSLAV HALAK, G, NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Halak posted a 3-0-0 record with a 0.95 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout to help the Islanders (17-7-0, 34 points) win three of four starts and complete their best November in 34 years. He opened the week by earning his 33rd career shutout, stopping all 21 shots he faced through overtime – plus another two in the shootout – in a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Nov. 24. Halak then made 25 saves in a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals Nov. 26 and closed the week with 34 saves in a 3-1 triumph over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 29. With the victory, Halak extended his personal winning streak to a career-long nine games (1.18 GAA, .956 SV%, 3 SO); only Billy Smith has posted a longer such streak in Islanders history (Jan. 23 – Feb. 25, 1982: 10-0-0). The 29-year-old Bratislava, Slovakia, native is 12-4-0 in 16 appearances this season, ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in wins, goals-against average (2.13), save percentage (.926) and shutouts (3).
SECOND STAR – RYAN CALLAHAN, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Callahan registered 3-2—5 in two games, tying for third in the NHL in goals and fifth in points to power the Lightning (16-6-2, 34 points) to a pair of victories and a share of first place in the League standings. He notched 2-1—3, his second multi-goal game of the season, in a 4-3 win over his former team, the New York Rangers, Nov. 26. Callahan then posted 1-1—2 for his eighth multi-point performance of the season in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators Nov. 29. The 29-year-old Rochester, N.Y., native ranks second on the Lightning with 11 goals and places third with 21 points in 19 outings this season; he didn’t score his 11th goal until his 40th contest in 2013-14. Since joining Tampa Bay at the 2014 Trade Deadline, the Lightning are 14-0-0 when Callahan finds the back of the net.
THIRD STAR – KARRI RAMO, G, CALGARY FLAMES
Ramo went 2-0-0, stopping all 58 shots he faced to record a pair of shutouts and lead the Flames (15-8-2, 32 points) to two wins in three outings. He made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks Nov. 26. Ramo then posted 26 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes Nov. 29 to extend his personal winning streak to four games, one shy of his career long set Jan. 22 – March 24, 2014 (5-0-0). With his performance, the 28-year-old Asikkala, Finland, native doubled his career total for shutouts (2 SO in 96 GP prior to last week). He has a 6-2-1 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 10 appearances this season.
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* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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