Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of December 1st through 7th.
First Star – Ilya Sorokin (G – NYI)
- Sorokin, who made at least 30 saves in all three of his starts, went 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and one shutout to help the Islanders (16-11-3, 35 points) move into third place in the Metropolitan Division via a 3-1-0 week. Sorokin turned aside 30 of 31 shots, yielding his lone goal with 3:34 remaining in regulation, in a 2-1 win against the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 2. He then made 35 stops, including 19 in the first period, as New York ended the League-leading Colorado Avalanche’s 17-game point streak (14-0-3) with a 6-3 triumph Dec. 4. Sorokin capped the week with a flawless 32-save performance in a 2-0 victory over the Lightning Dec. 6 to tie Glenn “Chico” Resch for the most shutouts in franchise history (25). The 30-year-old Sorokin, who also ranks third in Islanders history with 135 career wins, owns a 10-8-2 record, 2.47 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and three shutouts through 20 total appearances this season.
Second Star – Jake Oettinger (G – DAL)
- Oettinger also went 3-0-0 (0.98 GAA, .961 SV%, 1 SO) to move into first place in the NHL in wins as the No. 2 overall Stars (20-5-5, 45 points) extended their point streak to 10 games dating to Nov. 20 (8-0-2). He earned his 14th career shutout with 30 stops in a 3-0 victory against the New Jersey Devils Dec. 3. Oettinger then made 16 saves in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks Dec. 5 before turning aside 27 shots, as well as all three shootout attempts, in a 3-2 triumph versus the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 7. The 26-year-old Oettinger, who has won six straight contests dating to Nov. 20 (1.82 GAA, .934 SV%, 1 SO), leads the League with 14 wins – one more Logan Thompson (WSH) and Scott Wedgewood (COL) – through 20 total games this season (14-4-2, 2.49 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO).
Third Star – Carter Verhaeghe (C – FLA)
- Verhaeghe scored in all three of his appearances to share first place with four goals (4-1—5) as the Panthers (14-12-2, 30 points) completed a 2-1-1 week. He potted Florida’s lone goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators Dec. 4 – his first game following the birth of his son, Rory. Verhaeghe then registered 2-1—3 in a 7-6 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets Dec. 6 before scoring the winning goal, the 24th of his career, in a 4-1 triumph versus the New York Islanders Dec. 7. The 30-year-old Verhaeghe, a three-time Stanley Cup winner, ranks fourth on Florida with 8-13—21 through 27 total games this season.
*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars, and Florida Panthers .
*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.
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