Ovechkin, Giguere and Backstrom Named ‘Three Stars’

Written by: Scott Vankoughnett on 8th February 2010

Ovechkin, Giguere and Backstrom Named 'Three Stars' | read this item

NEW YORK (February 8, 2010) – Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom have been named the NHL ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending Feb. 7.

FIRST STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Ovechkin led all NHL scorers last week with 10 points (seven goals, three assists) as the Capitals went 4-0-0, extending their franchise-record win streak to 14. Ovechkin notched one goal in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins Feb. 2, recorded two goals and one assist in a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers Feb. 4 and tallied one goal and one assist in a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Feb. 5. He finished the week by recording three goals and one assist in a 5-4 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Feb. 7. Ovechkin, who has tallied goals in each of his past five games, leads the NHL in goals (42), points (86) and plus-minus (+41). The Capitals 14-game winning streak is a franchise record and matches the third-longest winning streak in NHL history. The last streak longer than 14 games was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ NHL-record 17-game winning streak in 1992-93.

SECOND STAR – JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE, G, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade Jan. 31, Giguere became the first goaltender in Maple Leafs history to record shutouts in his first two games with the club. He recorded 30 saves as the Maple Leafs defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Feb. 1 and again stopped 30 shots for his third shutout of the season and 34th of his career in a 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators Feb. 5, snapping the Senators’ franchise-record 11-game winning streak. Giguere has posted a 6-8-5 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 22 appearances with Anaheim and Toronto this season.

THIRD STAR – NICKLAS BACKSTROM, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Backstrom matched Ovechkin with 10 points last week (two goals, eight assists), climbing to fourth place in the NHL scoring race (25-48–73 in 59 games) and extending his point streak to eight games (4-13–17). Backstrom began the week by notching one assist in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins Feb. 2. He tied a career high with five points (one goal, four assists) in a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers Feb. 4, tallied one goal and one assist in a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Feb. 5 and collected two assists in a 5-4 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Feb. 7.