NEW YORK – Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand, New York Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere have been named the NHL’s ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending December 25.
FIRST STAR — BRAD MARCHAND, LW, BOSTON BRUINS
Marchand tallied six points (four goals, two assists) in a pair of home victories, notching the game-winning goal in both contests, as the red-hot Bruins (23-9-1) entered the holiday break atop the Eastern Conference standings. Marchand’s third-period goal was the difference in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens December 19 and he recorded the first hat trick, five-point game and +5 rating of his NHL career in an 8-0 win over the Florida Panthers December 23. The 23-year-old Halifax native leads all Bruins goal-scorers with 15 and ranks second on the club in points (29). He has posted a +25 rating, second in the NHL behind Boston teammate Tyler Seguin (+26). The defending Stanley Cup champions have won their past six games, outscoring opponents 30-7 in that span, and are 20-2-1 in their past 23 starts.
SECOND STAR — MARIAN GABORIK, RW, NEW YORK RANGERS
Gaborik surged into the break as the NHL’s leading goal-scorer by notching five points (four goals, one assist) — including a pair of game-winning goals — as the Rangers (21-8-4) climbed to first place in the Atlantic by sweeping a trio of division rivals. Gaborik notched the game-winner among two goals and one assist in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils December 20 and scored one goal in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders December 22. He concluded the week by tallying the game-winner in a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers December 23 in the clubs’ showdown for the division lead and a prelude to their clash in the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic outdoors at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Jan. 2.
The 29-year-old Trencin, Slovakia native increased his season goals total to a League-leading 21 and tops the Rangers in scoring with 32 points in 33 games.
THIRD STAR — JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE, G, COLORADO AVALANCHE
Giguere posted a 3-0-0 record, 1.60 goals-against average and .951 save percentage as the Avalanche improved to 18-17-1 on the season. He made 31 saves in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers December 19, stopped 37 shots in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues December 21 and helped the Avalanche post a milestone victory with 29 saves in a 2-1 overtime decision over the Tampa Bay Lightning December 23. The Avalanche posted their eighth consecutive win at home, the longest single-season home winning streak since the franchise moved to Denver in 1995. The 34-year-old Montreal native improved his season record to 8-4-0 in 14 appearances. He ranks third among NHL goaltenders in goals-against average (1.79) and fifth in save percentage (.934).
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