Parise, Elliott, Kessel named stars of week

NEW YORK - Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise, St. Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott and Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending March 27.
FIRST STAR - ZACH PARISE, LW, MINNESOTA WILD

Parise paced the NHL with five goals and shared the League lead with seven points in three contests to help the Wild (37-28-11, 85 points) extend their winning streak to a season-high five games and move back into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He posted one assist in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings March 22. Parise then registered 3-1-4, including his fifth career hat trick and League-leading third of the season, in a 6-2 triumph over the Calgary Flames March 24. He closed the week with a pair of goals, including the winner, in a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche March 26. The 31-year-old Minneapolis native paces the Wild with 24 goals in 65 games this season (24-25-49), his eighth career and third straight 20-goal campaign.

SECOND STAR - BRIAN ELLIOTT, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Elliott stopped all 52 shots he faced over two appearances to help the Blues (45-22-9, 99 points) extend their shutout streak to a franchise-record four consecutive games and clinch their fifth straight playoff berth. He made 37 saves in a 1-0 win over the San Jose Sharks March 22, followed by 15 saves in a 4-0 victory against the Vancouver Canucks March 25. In doing so, Elliott matched a career high with his third consecutive personal shutout - a feat last achieved April 7-11, 2013. The 30-year-old Newmarket, Ont., native - who is 20-7-6 with four shutouts in 37 outings this season - paces the NHL with a 1.95 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in 2015-16.

THIRD STAR - PHIL KESSEL, RW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Kessel shared the League lead in assists (5) and points (7) to help the Penguins (42-25-8, 92 points) win two of their three starts and finish the week in third place in the Metropolitan Division. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils March 24, Kessel set career highs for assists (4) and points (5) in one game in a 7-2 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings March 26. He then recorded 1-1-2, including an assist on the overtime goal, in a 3-2 victory against the New York Rangers March 27. The 28-year-old Madison, Wis., native has 23-31-54 in 75 contests this season, his eighth consecutive 50-point campaign.