PAVELEC, TURRIS AND BISHOP NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 22.
FIRST STAR – ONDREJ PAVELEC, G, WINNIPEG JETS
Pavelec went 3-0-0 with a 0.97 goals-against average, .970 save percentage and one shutout to help the Jets (37-23-12, 86 points) pick up three straight wins and maintain the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. He made 38 saves in a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks March 17. Pavelec then denied 32 shots – and two attempts in the shootout – in a 2-1 triumph over the St. Louis Blues March 19. He capped the week by stopping all 28 shots he faced, including 11 in the third period, to earn his 13th career shutout (second this season) in a 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals March 21. The 27-year-old Kladno, Czech Republic, native has compiled a 17-14-7 record with a 2.40 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 42 appearances this season. That includes four consecutive victories, his first such streak since Jan. 13-21, 2014 (4-0-0).
SECOND STAR – KYLE TURRIS, C, OTTAWA SENATORS
Turris led all players with four goals and shared first in the NHL with six points to power the Senators (36-24-11, 83 points) to three consecutive wins, moving the team within one point of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. He opened the week with the primary assist on Mark Stone’s overtime goal in a 2-1 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes March 17. Turris followed that performance with 2-1—3, his second multi-goal and three-point games of the season, in a 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins March 19. He then recorded his second straight multi-goal game (2-0—2), including the winning tally, in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs March 21 – the first time he has put together consecutive multi-goal performances. The 25-year-old New Westminster, B.C., native has registered 21-31—52 in 71 contests this season, five goals and six points shy of his career highs established in 82 games in 2013-14.
THIRD STAR – BEN BISHOP, G, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Bishop posted a 3-0-0 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and .935 save percentage to lead the Lightning (45-21-7, 97 points) to three straight victories, all against divisional opponents. He made 32 saves in a 4-2 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens March 16, his fourth such win in as many meetings this season. Bishop then stopped 30 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings March 20. He closed the week with 25 saves in a 5-3 win over the Boston Bruins March 22, helping the Lightning snap a 10-game skid in the head-to-head series dating to March 27, 2012. The 28-year-old Denver, Colo., native has appeared in 55 games this season, going 36-11-4 with a 2.31 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts. His 36 wins rank third in the NHL and are one shy of his career high set in 63 games in 2013-14.
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