Allen, Talbot, Rinne named our 'Three Playoff Stars of the Week'

NEW YORK – The Neutral Zone has named Jake Allen, Cam Talbot, and Pekka Rinne their 'Three Playoff Stars of the Week' for the first week of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs ending April 16.

FIRST STAR - JAKE ALLEN, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES

Allen turned aside 114 of 117 shots through the Blues' first three playoff games this week. So far in the playoffs in 2017, Allen has a 0.91 GAA, and a .974 SV%. In the first game on April 12, Allen made 51 saves on 52 shots faced (.981 SV%) in St. Louis' Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. In Game 2 on April 14, Allen made 23 saves on 24 shots faced (.958 SV%) in the Blues' win, putting them up 2-0 in the series. In Game 3 on April 16, Allen made 40 saves in 41 shots faces (.976 SV%), giving the Blues another win and a 3-0 series lead against the Wild.

SECOND STAR - CAM TALBOT, G, EDMONTON OILERS

Talbot is 2-1-0 with a .98 GAA and a .964 SV% in three playoff games this season, all in the past week. He made 80 saves in 83 shots faced in the three games. Although he made 41 saves on 44 shots (.932 SV%) faced in Game 1 of Edmonton's first round series on April 12, Talbot earned shutouts in the next two games. He made 16 saves on April 14 in Game 2 for his first career playoff shutout, and 23 saves on April 16 in Game 3. With the shutout in Game 3, Talbot became the second Oilers goaltender to record a shutout in consecutive playoff games, joining Curtis Joseph in the 1998 conference quarter-final.

THIRD STAR - PEKKA RINNE, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Rinne turned away all 59 shots faced through the Predators' first two playoff games this week. Rinne made 29 saves in Game 1 against Chicago on April 13, and then made 30 saves in Game 2 on April 15. Rinne became the first goalie to record 2 assists and a shutout in a playoff game since Tom Barrasso in Game 2 of the 1993 division semi-final against the New Jersey Devils.