Bruins goaltenders Fernandez, Thomas headline NHL's 'Three Stars' for December

FIRST STAR -- MANNY FERNANDEZ/ TIM THOMAS, G, BOSTON BRUINS

Fernandez posted a 5-1-0 record with a 1.58 goals-against average, 946 save percentage and one shutout in six starts, while Thomas won all seven of his starts with a 2.40 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and one shutout. Their efforts helped the Bruins conclude the month with a 28-5-4 record, their best start to a season since 1929-30 (32-4-1). Fernandez notched his 15th career shutout with 27 saves in a 4-0 victory at Florida Dec. 6 and faced 30 or more shots in each of his last three December wins. Thomas posted five of his seven victories on the road, including a 25-save performance in recording his 10th career shutout Dec. 23 at New Jersey.

SECOND STAR -- JEFF CARTER, C, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Carter tied for the lead among NHL scorers with 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 14 games as the Flyers went 9-3-2. He recorded points in 11 of 14 games, including goals in nine contests. He tallied five multiple-point games, highlighted by four points (two goals, two assists) and a career-best +5 rating in a 7-1 victory against Washington Dec. 20, and added three-point games in victories over Tampa Bay (4-3, Dec. 2) and Pittsburgh (6-3, Dec. 13). Carter leads the NHL in goals (27) and ranks ninth in overall scoring with 27-16--43.

THIRD STAR -- ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Named the NHL's First Star for November, Ovechkin continued his hot play by tallying a League-leading 12 goals (12-7--19) as the Capitals posted an 11-3-0 record. He notched a club-record sixth career overtime goal in a 5-4 win over the New York Islanders Dec. 16, tallied three points (two goals, one assist) as Washington overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime Dec. 23, scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 26 and recorded a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 28. Ovechkin ranks second in the NHL scoring race with 26-26--52, is second in goals and leads the League in shots (231).