Zibanejad leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending March 19.

FIRST STAR - MIKA ZIBANEJAD, C, NEW YORK RANGERS

Zibanejad registered multiple points in all four of his outings to lead the NHL with 5-4-9 and propel the Rangers (41-19-10, 92 points) to a perfect week as they extended their point streak to seven contests dating to March 9 (6-0-1). He scored twice, his team-leading ninth multi-goal performance of the season, in a 5-3 victory against the Washington Capitals March 14. Zibanejad then compiled 2-3-5 in consecutive wins versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, posting 1-1-2 in a 4-2 triumph March 16 and 1-2-3 (including his third straight game-opening goal as well as his team-best fifth game-winning goal of 2022 23) in a 6-0 victory March 18. He finished the week 1-1-2 for his fourth consecutive multi-point effort, a first in his career (755 GP), in a 7-0 triumph against the Nashville Predators March 19. The 29-year-old Zibanejad has played in 70 total contests this season (37-40-77), ranking among the League leaders in power-play goals (3rd; 19), power-play points (t-9th; 31), goals (t-11th; 37) and points (20th; 77). The 12-season NHL veteran also now has 62-65-127 in 83 career appearances during the month of March, an average of 1.53 points per game.

SECOND STAR - CALE MAKAR, D, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Makar topped defensemen and placed third in the entire NHL with 1-8-9 across four games as the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche (40-22-6, 86 points) pushed their winning streak to five contests dating to March 11 to move into third place in the Central Division. He collected three assists in an 8-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens March 13. Makar then assisted on Colorado's lone goal in regulation in a 2-1 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs March 15 before adding 1-1-2 in a 5-4 triumph versus the Ottawa Senators March 16. He capped the week with another three-assist outing, his third of the month (also March 7 vs. SJS: 1-3-4) and 11th of his career, in a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings March 18. Makar, who at age 24 already owns a Calder Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy, sits second among defensemen with 1.11 points per game and seventh with 16-45-61 through 55 total appearances this season. Those totals have been aided by an active eight-game point streak dating to March 5, during which he has compiled 3-13-16.

THIRD STAR - JEREMY SWAYMAN, G, BOSTON BRUINS

Swayman stopped all 62 shots he faced in two starts, going 2-0-0 with two shutouts to help the League-leading Bruins (53-11-5, 111 points) win three of their four contests. Swayman first made 36 saves for his eighth career shutout and third of the season in a 3-0 victory against the Winnipeg Jets March 16. He then turned aside 26 shots in a 7-0 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres March 19. In doing so, Swayman became the first Boston goaltender with consecutive shutouts since Tuukka Rask (Dec. 13-23, 2011) and Tim Thomas (Nov. 19-21, 2011) both accomplished the feat in 2011-12. The 24-year-old Swayman owns an 18-6-4 record in 30 total games this season, placing among the League leaders in goals-against average (3rd; 2.20), shutouts (t-3rd; 4) and save percentage (4th; .920).