Robertson leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK - Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz and New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending March 6.

FIRST STAR - JASON ROBERTSON, LW, DALLAS STARS

Robertson topped the NHL with seven goals in three contests (7-0-7), highlighted by consecutive hat tricks and game-winning goals, to lift the Stars (32-20-3, 67 points) to a perfect week and into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Down 3-1 midway through the second period, he scored the first of three unanswered Dallas goals en route to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings March 2. Robertson then recorded his first career hat trick -

• while playing in his 100th NHL game, a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets March 4. He closed the week by posting his second straight hat trick (including the decisive goal) and reaching the 100-point milestone (46-54-100 in 101 GP) in a 6-3 triumph over the Minnesota Wild March 6. In doing so, Robertson joined Bill Goldsworthy (March 16-21, 1971 w/ MNS) as the second player in Stars/North Stars history to register a hat trick in consecutive games and became the first player on any NHL team to accomplish the feat since Jan. 16-18, 2020 (Alex Ovechkin w/ WSH). The 22-year-old Arcadia, Calif., native and runner-up for the 2020-21 Calder Memorial Trophy has compiled 29-25-54 in 47 total appearances this season, placing among the League leaders in game-winning goals (2nd; 9), goals (t-9th; 29) and shooting percentage (13th; 20.4%).

SECOND STAR - NICK SCHMALTZ, C, ARIZONA COYOTES

Buoyed by the NHL's first seven-point performance in more than a decade, Schmaltz paced the League with 3-5-8 in two outings to help the Coyotes (16-35-4, 36 points) pick up a pair of victories and improve to 4-2-0 in their last six starts dating to Feb. 20. Schmaltz first scored the game-winning goal against the No. 1 overall team in the NHL standings, the Colorado Avalanche, in a 2-1 triumph March 3. He then
set a franchise record
and became the first NHL player to collect seven points in a game since Feb. 2, 2012 (Sam Gagner: 4-4-8 w/ EDM) with 2-5-7 in an 8-5 win against the Ottawa Senators March 5. The 26-year-old Madison, Wis., native - who also
matched a Coyotes/Jets record for assists in a game
- has played in 36 total contests this season, ranking fourth on Arizona with 14-19-33 and eighth in the entire NHL with a 21.2 shooting percentage.

THIRD STAR - IGOR SHESTERKIN, G, NEW YORK RANGERS

Shesterkin stopped 106 of the 111 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .955 save percentage to propel the Rangers (36-15-5, 77 points) to a perfect week and into second place in the Metropolitan Division. He made 29 saves, including 13 in the third period, in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues March 2. Shesterkin then yielded only one goal in each of his next two starts, turning aside 32 shots in a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils March 4 and denying 45 attempts (

) in a 4-1 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets March 6. The 26-year-old Moscow, Russia, native has appeared in 37 total games this season, leading the NHL in goals-against average (1.93) and save percentage (.942) while also ranking among the top performers in wins (t-3rd; 28) and shutouts (t-6th; 3).