NHL Stars of the Week – Tarasenko Shines as First Star

Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of April 11th through 17th.

First Star – Vladimir Tarasenko (RW – STL)

• Tarasenko would lead the League with seven goals and 11 points in four games played for the St. Louis Blues. To open up the week Tarasenko would with a pair of goals in a 4-2 victory over Boston on April 12th, and then on April 14th he would record three goals and two assists for five points in 6-2 victory over Buffalo as he would set an all time new best for points in a game. On April 16th against Minnesota Tarasenko would score a goal in a 6-5 overtime win, and then to close out the week he would record a goal and two assists in an 8-3 victory over Nashville on April 17th.

Second Star – Kevin Fiala (LW – MIN)

• Fiala would record five goals and five assists for ten points in four games played for the Minnesota Wild, and he would open up his week two goals in a 5-1 victory over Edmonton on April 12th. Then on April 14th he would have two goals and an assist in a 3-2 overtime win over Dallas, and he would have an assist in the 6-5 overtime loss to the Blues on April 16th. To close out the week Fiala would record a goal and three assists in a 5-4 overtime victory over San Jose on April 17th.

Third Star – Mike Smith (G – EDM)

• Smith would play in two games for the Edmonton Oilers and would go a perfect 2-0-0 for them as he would pitch back to back shutouts. He would start his week with a 30 save 4-0 shutout victory over Nashville on April 14th, and then Smith would make 39 saves in a 4-0 victory over Vegas on April 16th. Smith is now the sixth NHL netminder in history to record back to back shutouts at the age of 40 or over.

*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL and Minnesota Wild.

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