Kane leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK - Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom and New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending March 13.

FIRST STAR - PATRICK KANE, RW, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Kane paced the NHL with nine assists and 10 points in three contests (1-9-10) to power the Blackhawks (22-30-8, 52 points) to a pair of victories. He established single-game highs with five assists and six points (1-5-6) - the first six-point performance by a Chicago player
since Feb. 5, 1995
(Bernie Nicholls: 4-2-6 at VAN) - in an 8-3 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks March 8. Kane then collected one assist in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins March 10 before finishing the week with three more helpers, his 21st career three-assist outing, in a 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators March 12. The 33-year-old Buffalo, N.Y., native - who has points in six straight games dating to March 3 (3-12-15) - has played in 56 total contests this season, topping the Blackhawks and ranking among the League leaders in assists (t-7th; 49), shots on goal (9th; 209) and points (13th; 68).

SECOND STAR - JACOB MARKSTROM, G, CALGARY FLAMES

Markstrom denied 76 of the 78 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average, .974 save percentage and one shutout to help the Flames (36-16-7, 79 points) pad their lead atop the Pacific Division. He allowed only one goal in each of his first two starts, making 27 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers March 7 and stopping 30 shots in a 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning March 10. Markstrom then capped the week by earning his League-leading ninth shutout of the season -
one shy of the franchise record
set by Miikka Kiprusoff in 2005-06 - with 19 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings March 12. The 32-year-old Gävle, Sweden, native has appeared in 46 total games this season, also placing among the top performers in goals-against average (3rd; 2.07), save percentage (4th; .928) and wins (t-6th; 28).

THIRD STAR - ANDERS LEE, LW, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Lee scored in all four of his outings to lead the NHL with seven goals (7-1-8) and propel the Islanders (24-24-8, 56 points) to a trio of wins. He opened the week with consecutive three-point performances, registering 2-1-3 in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche March 7 and posting his first career hat trick (in his 568th game) in a 6-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets March 10. Lee then scored once in each of his next two appearances, potting the decisive tally (and reaching the 20-goal milestone for the sixth time) in a 5-2 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets March 11 and adding another goal in a 4-3 win against the Anaheim Ducks March 13. The 31-year-old Edina, Minn., native has skated in 50 total contests this season, ranking second on New York in goals (21) and fifth in points (28).