Music: {allcanada} Gaudreau, Wilson, Gagner named 'Three Stars'

Monday, December 29, 2014

{allcanada} Gaudreau, Wilson, Gagner named 'Three Stars'

Sons of Anarchy / How I Met Your Mother

NEW YORK – Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau, Nashville Predators center Colin Wilson and Arizona Coyotes center Sam Gagner have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Dec. 28.

FIRST STAR – JOHNNY GAUDREAU, LW, CALGARY FLAMES

Gaudreau led the NHL with five goals (5-0—5) and shared the League lead with a +5 rating to power the Flames (19-15-3, 41 points) to a pair of wins. He opened the week by recording a natural hat trick, his first career three-goal game, in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 22. At 21 years, 131 days, he became the youngest Flames player to post a hat trick since Dec. 28, 1987 (Joe Nieuwendyk). Gaudreau then added two goals, including the game-winning marker, in a 4-1 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 27. The 21-year-old Salem, N.J., native and reigning Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner ranks second among rookies in goals (12), assists (17) and points (29) in 36 games this season. A fourth-round selection (104th overall) by the Flames in the 2011 NHL Draft, Gaudreau made his NHL debut on April 13 in Vancouver, scoring his first goal on his first career shot.

SECOND STAR – COLIN WILSON, C, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Wilson tied for second in the NHL with 4-1—5, scoring in all three games to lead the Predators (23-9-2, 48 points) to four of a possible six standings points. He collected 1-1—2, his third multi-point performance of the season, in a 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Dec. 22. Wilson then found the back of the net in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins Dec. 23. He capped the week by recording 2-0—2, his seventh career multi-goal game and first since April 4, in a 4-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers Dec. 27. The 25-year-old Greenwich, Conn., native is riding a three-game goal streak for the first time in his NHL career. The seventh overall selection by the Predators in the 2008 NHL Draft, Wilson has 10-8—18 in 32 contests this season.

THIRD STAR – SAM GAGNER, C, ARIZONA COYOTES

Gagner led the NHL with six points (2-4—6) in three games to help the Coyotes (13-18-4, 30 points) pick up a pair of victories. He assisted on the team's lone goal in a 7-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 22. Gagner then registered 2-2—4, his best single-game output since Feb. 2, 2012 (4-4—8), in a 5-1 win over his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, Dec. 23. He closed the week by adding one assist in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 27. The 25-year-old London, Ont., native shares fifth on the Coyotes with 5-12—17 in 34 games this season. He has posted one other point streak of at least three games in 2014-15, collecting 0 3—3 from Nov. 18-22 (3 GP).

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