Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal, Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne and Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 25.
FIRST STAR – ERIC STAAL, C, MINNESOTA WILD
Staal paced the NHL with 4-3—7 in four games to propel the Wild (35-20-7, 77 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Central Division. He collected one assist in a 5‑3 win over the New York Islanders Feb. 19, followed by one goal in a 4-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils Feb. 22. Staal then registered 2-2—4, his 13th career four-point performance and first since March 8, 2015 (0-4—4 w/ CAR), in a 4-1 triumph over the New York Rangers Feb. 23. He capped the week with his 30th goal of the season, reaching the milestone for the first time since 2010-11 and sixth time overall, in a 3-2 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks Feb. 25. The 33-year-old Thunder Bay, Ont., native shares seventh place in the NHL with 30 goals and ranks 20th overall with 59 points in 62 contests this season (30-29—59).
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SECOND STAR – PEKKA RINNE, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Rinne went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .970 save percentage and one shutout to lift the Predators(38-14-9, 85 points) back atop the Central Division standings. He made 36 saves in a 5-2 triumph over the Ottawa Senators Feb. 19. Rinne then turned aside 33 shots in a 7-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks Feb. 22, becoming the third Finnish-born goaltender in NHL history to record 300 wins. He closed the week by making 27 saves for his 49th career shutout in a 4-0 triumph over the St. Louis Blues Feb. 25. The 35-year-old Kempele, Finland, native has appeared in 45 games this season, ranking in the top five among goaltenders in wins (t-2nd; 32), shutouts (t-2nd; 6), goals-against average (5th; 2.27) and save percentage (5th; .929).
THIRD STAR – RYAN GETZLAF, C, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Getzlaf placed second in the NHL with 2-5—7 in four outings as the Ducks (31‑21-12, 74 points) earned five of a possible eight standings points to maintain third place in the Pacific Division. He posted one assist in a 2-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights Feb. 19, followed by 1-1—2 in a 2-0 win over the Dallas Stars Feb. 21. After being held off the scoresheet in a 2-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes Feb. 24, Getzlaf bounced back with 1-3—4 (his 18th career four-point effort) in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers Feb. 25. The 32-year-old Regina, Sask., native sits second on the Ducks with 9-33—42 this season (40 GP) despite missing 24 games due to injury.
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* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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