Raycroft, Langenbrunner, Lidstrom named NHL's Three Stars

Feb 5, 2007 - 6:32 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Andrew Raycroft clearly has benefited from the one-week layoff during the All-Star break.

The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday.

New Jersey Devils right wing Jamie Langenbrunner was awarded the second star and Detroit Red Wings All-Star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was named third star.

Raycroft entered the All-Star break with a 4.09 goals-against average in his last four games. But the 26-year-old has been outstanding since, going 4-0-0 with a 1.25 GAA and a .961 save percentage.

In three games this past week, Raycroft posted a 1.33 GAA and a .960 save percentage. His best performance came Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers, when he made 37 saves.

The Calder Trophy winner in 2004, Raycroft is 24-16-4 with a 2.92 GAA and an .899 save percentage in 44 games - 43 starts - this season.

Langenbrunner scored a league-leading seven points last week, collecting two goals and five assists in leading the Devils to a 2-0-1 record. The veteran has 18 tallies and 21 assists in 53 games this season.

Lidstrom recorded six assists to pace the Red Wings to victories in both of their games last week. The Swedish blue-liner set up Henrik Zetterberg's in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime victory over the New York Islanders, a game in which the Red Wings rallied from a three-goal deficit.

A nine-time All-Star, Lidstrom has 10 goals and 37 assists in 53 contests this season. He leads all NHL defensemen in scoring and boasts a league-best rating of plus-33.