Huberdeau leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK - Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Dec. 5.

FIRST STAR - JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Huberdeau led the NHL with eight assists and nine points in three contests (1-8-9) to propel the Panthers (17-4-3, 37 points) to a trio of comeback wins en route to moving into first place in the overall League standings. He collected three helpers, including assists on the tying and winning goals, as Florida erased a three-goal, third-period deficit for a 5-4 triumph over the Washington Capitals Nov. 30. Huberdeau then matched career highs with four assists and five points (1-4-5) as the Panthers again rallied from a three-goal deficit, this time for a 7-4 victory against the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 2. In doing so, Florida recorded the ninth instance in NHL history of a team posting consecutive three-goal comeback wins - and the fifth such instance with each victory coming in regulation. Huberdeau closed the week with another helper as the Panthers overcame a trio of one-goal deficits for a 4-3 shootout win against the St. Louis Blues Dec. 4. The 28-year-old Saint-Jerome, Que., native has played in 24 total games this season, sharing third place in the League in assists (21) and ranking sixth in points (29).

SECOND STAR - VICTOR HEDMAN, D, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Hedman placed second in the NHL with 2-6-8, highlighted by a pair of three-point outings, in four games to power the Lightning (15-5-4, 34 points) to a 3-0-1 week. He compiled 2-2-4 in a home-and-home set with the St. Louis Blues, registering one assist in a 4-3 shootout loss Nov. 30 and 2-1-3 - including his 20th career game-winning goal - in a 4-2 victory Dec. 2. Hedman added another helper in a 3-2 overtime win against the Boston Bruins Dec. 4 before capping the week with three assists, his 21st career such performance, in a 7-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers Dec. 5. The 30-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native - who has been a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy for five consecutive campaigns, including a win in 2017-18 - tops NHL defensemen with 5-21-26 through 24 total appearances this season.

THIRD STAR - JAKE GUENTZEL, LW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Guentzel shared the League lead with five goals in three contests (5-1-6) to extend his point streak to a career-high 12 games (10-6-16) and help the Penguins (11-8-5, 27 points) complete a 1-1-1 week. Guentzel scored Pittsburgh's lone goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames Nov. 29 and one of the Penguins' two tallies in a 5-2 defeat against the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 1. He got Pittsburgh back in the win column with 3-1-4 - featuring his fourth career hat trick, third career four-point performance and 18th career game-winning goal - in a 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 4. The 27-year-old Omaha, Neb., native tops the Penguins and is tied for 10th in the NHL with 13 goals in 23 total games this season (13-11-24).