NHL Stars of the Week – Atkinson’s Shorthanded Efforts Earn Honors

Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of February 8th through 14th.

First Stars – Cam Atkinson (RW – CLB) and Dr. Laurie Hommema (OhioHealth)

• Dr. Hommema is the medical director of provider and associate well-being for OhioHealth, and with her husband Kevin, they developeed the idea to clean and reuse N95 masks during the pandemic. Due to shortages of PPE, the ability to decontaminate and recycle millions of masks each day has helped thousands of frontline workers stay safe.

• Atkinson led the NHL with 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points, which included a pair of shorthanded goals in three games played for the Blue Jackets. On Feb. 8th Atkinson would start the week with a shorthanded penalty shot goal in a 3-2 victory over Carolina. Then on Feb. 11th he would record a goal and three assists for four points in a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, and then finished the week with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blackhawks on Feb. 13th.

Second Star – Marc-Andre Fleury (G – VGK)

• Fleury would go 3-1-0 in four games for the Golden Knights. The week would see Fleury stop 100 of 106 shots to record a 1.51 GAA, .943 save percentage, and one shutout as the Knights maintained first place in the Honda NHL West Division. On Feb 9th to start the week Fleury would make 19 saves in a 5-4 victory over the Ducks, and then on Feb. 11th Anaheim would get the 1-0 victory despite Fleury’s 27 save performance. Then on Feb. 13th Fleury would make 24 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Sharks, and then finish the week with his 63rd career shutout with a 1-0 victory over Colorado.

Third Star – Bryan Rust (RW – PIT)

• Rust would play only two games for the Penguins, but would make a big impact as he would record three goals and two assists for five points to guide the Pens to a 2-0-0 week. On Feb. 11th Rust would record a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Islanders, then on Feb. 14th he would record two goals and an assist on the 6-3 defeat of the Washington Capitals.

*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL.