Kreider leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK - New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider, St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso and San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Jan. 23.

FIRST STAR - CHRIS KREIDER, LW, NEW YORK RANGERS

Kreider topped the NHL with 5-2-7 in three games to propel the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers (27-11-4, 58 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He registered one of five unanswered goals as New York overcame a two-goal deficit for a 6-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 19. Kreider then potted 1-1-2, his 12th multi-point performance of the season, in a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Jan. 21. He capped the week by matching a career high with four points (3-1-4), scoring once while shorthanded, at even strength and on the power play to record his fifth career hat trick in a 7-3 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 22. The 30-year-old Boxford, Mass., native has found the back of the net in five straight contests (dating to Jan. 13: 8-2-10) to move into a share of the League lead with a career-high 29 goals in 42 total outings this season (29-13-42). Kreider, who is set to participate in the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, also ranks among the top 2021-22 performers in power-play goals (1st; 14), power-play points (3rd; 20), shooting percentage (10th; 22.1%) and points (16th; 42).

SECOND STAR - VILLE HUSSO, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES

Husso stopped 97 of the 101 shots he faced to go 3-0-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and one shutout as the Blues (25-11-5, 55 points) posted a perfect week to move into second place in the Central Division. He made 32 saves in a 5-3 win against the Nashville Predators Jan. 17. Husso then earned his third career shutout (and second of the season) with 27 stops in a 5-0 triumph over the Seattle Kraken Jan. 21. He finished the week with 38 saves, including 20 in the first period, in a 3-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks Jan. 23. The 26-year-old Helsinki, Finland, native - who has won five straight decisions dating to Jan. 7 - has appeared in 12 total games this season, ranking second in the NHL with both a 1.93 goals-against average and .941 save percentage while compiling an 8-2-1 record.

THIRD STAR - TIMO MEIER, RW, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Meier paced the NHL with six goals in three outings, highlighted by
the League's first five-goal performance since March 5, 2020
, to help the Sharks (21-19-2) maintain the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference. He set a franchise record with five goals (including three in the opening 19:09 of the game) in a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 17. Meier then scored once in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken Jan. 20 before being held without a point in a 7-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 22. The 25-year-old Herisau, Switzerland, native - who also will be in Las Vegas for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend - has skated in 37 total contests this season, placing among the League leaders in game-winning goals (2nd; 6), shots on goal (5th; 152), goals (t-8th; 21) and points (9th; 46).