Nikita Kucherov leads 3 Stars of Week

NEW YORK --Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford and New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes have been named the NHL's 3 Stars for the week ending Nov. 6.

FIRST STAR - NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov shared the League lead with 3-4-7 in three contests to guide the Lightning (7-4-1, 15 points) to five out of a possible six standings points and second place in the Atlantic Division. He matched a career high with 2-2-4, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders Nov. 1. Kucherov added one assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins Nov. 3 before closing the week with 1 1-2, his third multi-point performance of the campaign, in a 4-1 triumph over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 5. The 23-year-old Moscow, Russia, native ranks third in the NHL with 15 points in 11 games this season, including a League-high 11 assists.

SECOND STAR - COREY CRAWFORD, G, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Crawford went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .971 save percentage and one shutout as the Blackhawks (9-3-1, 19 points) picked up four wins in four games to move into first place in the Central Division. He made 33 saves in a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames Nov. 1, earned his 21st career shutout with 38 stops in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 3 and turned aside 31 shots in a 3-2 triumph over the Dallas Stars Nov. 5. The 31-year-old Montreal native owns a 6-3-1 record in 10 outings this season, ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in wins (t-4th), goals-against average (8th; 2.01), save percentage (7th; .936) and shutouts (t-3rd; 2).

THIRD STAR - KEVIN HAYES, C, NEW YORK RANGERS

Hayes scored in all four of his appearances to share the League lead in goals (4 2-6) and propel the Rangers (10-3-0, 20 points) into second place in the NHL's overall standings with a perfect 4-0-0 week. He picked up one goal in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues Nov. 1 before equaling a career high with 1-2-3 in a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Nov. 3. Hayes again scored in a pair of 5-2 triumphs (Nov. 5 at BOS and Nov. 6 vs. WPG), including the shorthanded, game-winning goal in his hometown of Boston. The 24-year-old Dorchester, Mass., native ranks second on the Rangers with 6 6-12 in 13 games this season and shares second place in the NHL with a +13 rating.