(via NHL Communications) - Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, New York Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo and Calgary Flames goaltender Cam Talbot have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 12.
FIRST STAR – ANDREI VASILEVSKIY, G, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Vasilevskiy won three games in as many starts, recording a 0.67 goals-against average, .972 save percentage and shutouts in back-to-back games as the Lightning (27-14-4) won three of four contests for the week and rose to second place in the Atlantic Division. Vasilevskiy made 21 saves in a 9-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Jan. 7, stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 9 and turned aside all 23 shots in a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Jan. 11. The victory over Philadelphia extended the Lightning's win streak to 10 games, matching a franchise record set from Feb. 9-27, 2019. The 25-year-old Tyumen, Russia, native recorded eight wins during Tampa Bay's 10-game streak, improving to 22-9-2 on the season with a 2.58 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
SECOND STAR – TONY DEANGELO, D, NEW YORK RANGERS
DeAngelo topped all NHL scorers with 3-4--7 in three games, leading the Rangers (21-19-4) to a 2-1-0 record for the week. DeAngelo recorded a pair of assists in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Jan. 7 before notching his first NHL hat trick as part of a career-high five-point performance (3-2--5) in a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils Jan. 9. DeAngelo registered the first five-point game by a defenseman in the 2019-20 season and tied a Rangers franchise record for points by a blueliner in a regular-season game, set on two occasions by Brian Leetch. The 24-year-old Sewell, N.J., native leads Rangers defensemen in scoring with 11-25--36 in 44 games. New York’s 125 combined points (34-91--125) by its blueliners pace all clubs in 2019-20, eight more than the next closest clubs (TBL, WSH w/ 117).
THIRD STAR – CAM TALBOT, G, CALGARY FLAMES
Talbot went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .953 save percentage, helping the Flames (25-17-5) remain undefeated in 2020 (5-0-0) and take first place in the Pacific Division. Talbot began the week by making 31 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 7. He then posted his second 40+ save effort of the season, stopping 42 shots in a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild Jan. 9. The 32-year-old Caledonia, Ont., native closed the week by making 29 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Jan. 11. Playing in his seventh NHL season, first with the Flames, Talbot improved his season record to 7-7-0 with a 2.54 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in 16 appearances. He is 6-2-0 with a 2.05 GAA and .940 SV% in his past nine games (eight starts) since Dec. 7.
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