NEW YORK – Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith , Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and St. Louis Blues left wing David Perron have been named the NHL’s ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending February 12.
FIRST STAR — MIKE SMITH, G, PHOENIX COYOTES
Smith recorded four wins in four starts, posting a League-best 0.74 goals-against average and .975 save percentage, to lift the Coyotes into sole possession of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. He made 30 saves in a 3-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings February 6, turned aside 28 shots in a 4-1 win against the Dallas Stars February 7 and recorded 23 saves in a 2-1 overtime win against the Calgary Flames February 9. Smith then stopped all 38 shots he faced in a 3-0 shutout of the Chicago Blackhawks February 11, his third blank sheet of the season. His 38 saves set a career high for saves in a shutout, six more than his previous best (32 saves in a 1-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks, February 10, 2007). The 29-year-old goaltender has a career-best 23 wins and .925 save percentage in 44 appearances.
SECOND STAR — EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Malkin led all skaters with eight points (three goals, five assists) and posted a +6 rating in three games as the Penguins moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. He collected one assist and scored in the shootout in a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens February 7, recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in an 8-5 win against the Winnipeg Jets February 11 and scored two goals in a 4-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning February 12. Malkin has scored in eight straight home games, tying the longest home scoring streak in the NHL this season (with teammate James Neal). The 2008-09 NHL scoring champion leads the League with 69 points (32 goals, 37 assists) in a bid for his second career Art Ross Trophy.
THIRD STAR — DAVID PERRON, LW, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Perron led the NHL with six goals and was +5 in four games as the Blues climbed within three points of the Detroit Red Wings for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference. He scored twice, including the winner, in a 3-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators February 7 and recorded another goal in a 4-3 shootout win against the New Jersey Devils February 9. Perron then collected two goals and an assist in a 3-2 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche February 11 and scored for the fourth consecutive game in a 3-0 victory against the San Jose Sharks February 12. The win improved the Blues’ record to 16-0-3 in their past 19 games at Scottrade Center. The 23-year-old Sherbrooke, Quebec native has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 30 games.
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