Thrashers LW Kovalchuk named NHL's "First Star" of the Week

Nov 5, 2007 - 6:54 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk on Monday was named the NHL's "First Star of the Week" after recording hat tricks in consecutive games.

Kovalchuk led NHL scorers for the week with six goals and one assist as the Thrashers won two of their three games.

Kovalchuk tallied the shootout winner as Atlanta defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 3-2, last Monday. He recorded a hat trick in a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Thursday and notched his second consecutive three-goal game in a 6-4 comeback victory at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Kovalchuk shares the NHL's goal-scoring lead with Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg (12) and ranks sixth in scoring with 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 14 games.

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was named "Second Star" after posting a 3-0-0 record, a 0.65 goals-against average and one shutout.

Lundqvist made 21 saves as the Rangers defeated Tampa Bay, 3-1, on Monday. The Swedish netminder notched his third shutout of the season with 31 saves in a 2-0 victory over Washington on Thursday and stopped 28 shots and all three shootout attempts in a 2-1 victory over New Jersey on Saturday.

Lundqvist has appeared in each of the Rangers' 13 games this season, posting a 6-6-1 record with a 1.61 goals-against average and three shutouts.

Minnesota Wild right wing Marian Gaborik was named "Third Star" after scoring five points (three goals, two assists) in two contests.

Gaborik recorded one goal and one assist in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday and tallied two goals and one assist in a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday.