Malkin, Bergeron and Bernier Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for January

NEW YORK – Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of January.

FIRST STAR – EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Malkin led the NHL with 12 goals and ranked second with 19 points in 12 games (12-7—19) to lift the Penguins (28-21-3, 59 points) to a 9-3-0 January and second place in the Metropolitan Division. He collected at least one point in eight of his 12 contests, highlighted by four three-point performances. Those included his 12th career hat trick Jan. 30 vs. SJS (3-0—3) and 22nd career four-point outing Jan. 13 vs. DET (2-2—4). Malkin also scored three game-winning goals, headlined by his 12th career overtime winner Jan. 7 vs. BOS. The 31-year-old Magnitogorsk, Russia, native shares fifth place in the NHL with 26 goals and sits 11th overall with 55 points through 48 contests this season. That includes a League-best 19 goals and 34 points in 26 outings since the start of December.

SECOND STAR – PATRICE BERGERON, C, BOSTON BRUINS

Bergeron ranked second in the NHL with nine goals and fourth with 17 points in 11 games (9-8—17) to guide the Bruins (29-11-8, 66 points) to an 8-1-2 January and within five points of first place in the overall League standings. He found the scoresheet in nine of his 11 appearances, headlined by a career-high four goals and five points (tied) Jan. 6 vs. CAR. In doing so, Bergeron became the first Boston player to score four goals in one game since Oct. 28, 1999 (Dave Andreychuk). The 32-year-old Ancienne-Lorette, Que., native and four-time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner sits third on the Bruins with 20-22—42 in 43 outings this season. He now has reached the 20-goal milestone in nine of his 14 NHL campaigns, including five straight.

THIRD STAR – JONATHAN BERNIER, G, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Bernier posted a League-high eight wins, compiling a 2.10 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and one shutout in 11 games to propel the Avalanche (27-18-4, 58 points) to an 8-2-1 January. He yielded two or fewer goals in seven of his 11 appearances, including his 16th career shutout Jan. 4 vs. CBJ (34 SV). Bernier also made a season-high 45 saves Jan. 18 vs. SJS (5-3 W), three shy of his career best set Dec. 5, 2013 (w/ TOR). The 29-year-old Laval, Que., native – who won a career-high nine straight games from Dec. 31 – Jan. 22 (1.53 GAA, .955 SV%, 1 SO) – owns a 14‑9‑2 record with a 2.67 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts in 25 outings this season.

Jonathan Toews named NHL Star of the Month

NEW YORK - Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews, Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg and Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the month of February.

FIRST STAR - JONATHAN TOEWS, C, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Toews paced the NHL with 7-11-18 in 10 games to guide the Blackhawks (39 18-5, 83 points) to a 9-1-0 February and second place in the Western Conference. He collected at least one point in nine of his 10 outings, highlighted by five multi-point performances. That included his fourth career hat trick and second career five-point effort Feb. 21 at MIN (3-2-5) - the first five-point game by a Chicago player since Toews achieved the feat Nov. 25, 2011 at ANA (2-3-5). He also registered a pair of game-winning goals, including his ninth career overtime tally Feb. 8 at MIN (1-2-3) - the most by any player in Blackhawks history. The 28-year-old Winnipeg native has 16 30-46 in 53 contests this season, including 5-8-13 during a six-game point streak.

SECOND STAR - FILIP FORSBERG, LW, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Forsberg led the NHL with 11 goals and ranked second with 17 points in 13 outings to lift the Predators (32-22-9, 73 points) to an 8-4-1 February and third place in the Central Division. After totaling 1-2-3 in his first seven contests of the month, Forsberg closed February with 10-4-14 during a six-game point streak that featured consecutive hat tricks and four three-point performances. He also shared the League lead with three game-winning goals, capped by his third career overtime tally in the month's finale Feb. 28 at BUF (2-1-3). The 22-year-old Ostervala, Sweden, native paces the Predators with 26 goals and 49 points through 63 games this season.

THIRD STAR - BRADEN HOLTBY, G, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Holtby went 8-0-1 with a 1.88 goals-against average, .928 save percentage and one shutout to backstop the League-leading Capitals (42-13-7, 91 points) to a 9-2-1 February. He allowed two or fewer goals in six of his nine appearances, highlighted by his 30th career shutout Feb. 7 vs. CAR (23 SV). The 27-year-old Lloydminster, Sask., native - who owns a 17-0-2 record in his past 19 decisions dating to Dec. 29 - has played in 47 games this season, ranking in the top three among goaltenders in goals-against average (1st; 1.95), shutouts (t-1st; 7), wins (t-2nd; 32) and save percentage (3rd; .929).

Evgeny Kuznetsov named NHL Player of the Month

NEW YORK - Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov, Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand and San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the month of January.

FIRST STAR - EVGENY KUZNETSOV, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Kuznetsov ranked second in the NHL with 7-13-20 in 15 games to power the League-leading Capitals (33-11-6, 72 points) to a 12-2-1 January. He collected at least one point in 11 of his 15 outings, highlighted by seven multi-point performances. That included his third career four-point game, a 1-3-4 effort Jan. 3 vs. TOR. Kuznetsov also placed third in the NHL with a +13 rating during the month, finishing with an even or plus rating in all but one his 15 appearances. The 24-year-old Chelyabinsk, Russia, native ranks third on the Capitals with 10-29-39 in 50 games this season after finishing 10th in the NHL with 20-57-77 in 82 contests in 2015-16, all career highs.

SECOND STAR - BRAD MARCHAND, LW, BOSTON BRUINS

Marchand led the NHL with 11-9-20 in 14 games to guide the Bruins (26-21-6, 58 points) to a 6-6-2 January. He picked up at least one point in nine of his 14 contests, highlighted by his third career five-point performance (and second of the season) Jan. 14 vs. PHI (2-3-5). Marchand also posted five multi-goal games, pacing the League with 11 goals overall, and led the NHL with three shorthanded goals and four shorthanded points. The 28-year-old Halifax, N.S., native ranks sixth in the NHL with 21-30-51 in 53 appearances this season and also shares the League lead with three shorthanded goals.

THIRD STAR - BRENT BURNS, D, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Burns paced NHL defensemen with six goals, 12 assists and 18 points in 14 games to lift the Pacific Division-leading Sharks (32-17-2, 66 points) to a 9-4-1 January. He recorded at least one point in 10 of his 14 outings, including six multi-point efforts. Burns also posted a pair of three-point performances, Jan. 10 at EDM (1-2-3) and Jan. 23 at COL (1-2-3), giving him three on the season. The 31-year-old Barrie, Ont., native ranks fourth in the NHL with 21-32-53 through 51 contests in 2016-17, leading all defensemen in both goals and points, and also paces the entire League in shots on goal (196).

- NHL Public Relations