Kovalchuk, Green and Mason named NHL 'Three Stars' of the Month

NEW YORK -- Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green and St. Louis Blues goaltender Chris Mason have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the month of February.

FIRST STAR -- ILYA KOVALCHUK, LW, ATLANTA THRASHERS Kovalchuk highlights

Kovalchuk led the NHL in goals (13) and points (21) in February as the Thrashers went 6-5-1 for the month. He recorded goals in nine of 12 games, including a season-high, six-game goal streak from Feb. 8-19 highlighted by his 11th career hat trick Feb. 15 against Anaheim. Kovalchuk recorded six multiple-point games, led by a season-high, five-point effort (two goals, three assists) Feb. 28 against Carolina. The 25-year-old Tver, Russia native has scored 18 goals in 20 games since being named Thrashers captain Jan. 11. He ranks seventh in NHL scoring with 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) in 63 games.

SECOND STAR -- MIKE GREEN, D, WASHINGTON CAPITALS Green highlights

Green led NHL defensemen and ranked second among all scorers with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 13 games, helping the Capitals post a 9-3-1 record. Green set an NHL record for defensemen with goals in eight consecutive games from Jan. 27 to Feb. 14, breaking the mark previously held by Mike O'Connell of the Boston Bruins (1983-84). It also matched the longest streak by any NHL player since 1997-98. The 23-year-old Calgary native leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 23-33--56 in 51 games. His 23 goals are a career high and the most by a Capitals defenseman since Sergei Gonchar had 26 in 2001-02.

THIRD STAR -- CHRIS MASON, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES Mason highlights

Mason posted an 8-2-4 record with a 1.64 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and one shutout as the Blues (28-26-8) closed within three points of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings. Mason started all 14 St. Louis games in February and allowed one goal or fewer eight times, including each of his final five appearances. He posted his fourth shutout of the season and 16th of his NHL career in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 13 and turned aside 41 of 42 shots in a 3-1 victory at Dallas Feb. 26.