Doan, Elliott and Backstrom Named ‘Three Stars’

Written by: Scott Vankoughnett on 1st February 2010

Doan, Elliott and Backstrom Named 'Three Stars' | read this item

NEW YORK (February 1, 2010) — Phoenix Coyotes right wing Shane Doan, Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliott and Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom have been named the NHL ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending Jan. 31.

FIRST STAR — SHANE DOAN, RW, PHOENIX COYOTES

Doan led all scorers last week with nine points (three goals, six assists) and posted a +5 rating, helping the Coyotes (33-18-5) win four consecutive games and climb to fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Doan tallied three assists, including two in the final 1:30 of regulation to force overtime, and notched the game-winning goal in the extra period of a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Jan. 26. He recorded one assist in a 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Flames Jan. 28, scored one goal in a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers Jan. 30 and registered a goal, two assists and a +3 rating in a 4-2 win over the Dallas Stars Jan. 31. The Coyotes earned their 33rd win of the season in the 56th game, the fastest they have reached that total in the 30-year history of the franchise. The Phoenix captain is on pace to lead the club in scoring for a sixth consecutive season (17-26–43).

SECOND STAR — BRIAN ELLIOTT, G, OTTAWA SENATORS

Elliott stopped 81 of 84 shots in posting a 3-0-0 record with a 0.98 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout as the Senators (31-21-4) extended their winning streak to a franchise-record nine games. He recorded 24 saves for his third shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils Jan. 26, stopped 30 shots in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Jan. 28 and finished the week with 27 saves in a 3-2 overtime triumph over the Montreal Canadiens Jan. 30. Elliott, who has won each of his past seven starts, improved to 17-11-3 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 33 appearances this season.

THIRD STAR — NICKLAS BACKSTROM, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Backstrom paced the League’s highest-scoring offense with seven points (two goals, five assists) and posted a +6 rating as the Capitals (37-12-6) tied a franchise record by extending their winning streak to 10 games. He notched one assist in victories over the New York Islanders (7-2, Jan. 26) and Anaheim Ducks (5-1, Jan. 27), notched a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers Jan. 29 and finished the week with one goal and one assist in a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 31. The 22-year-old center ranks second on the Capitals in scoring and sixth in NHL with 63 points (23 goals, 40 assists). He already has set a single-season career high in goals, eclipsing the 22 from last season.