FIRST STAR -- JAMIE LANGENBRUNNER, RW, NEW JERSEY DEVILS Highlights
Langenbrunner tallied six points last week (five goals, one assist), helping the Devils (29-10-1) win three of four games. Langenbrunner recorded one assist in a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Dec. 28, notched one goal in a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 30 and tallied his club's only score in a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Dec. 31. The 34-year-old Cloquet, Minnesota native was honored with his second career selection to the United States Olympic Team Jan. 1 and celebrated a trip to his home state by recording his first career NHL hat trick in a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild Jan. 2. Langenbrunner ranks second on the Devils in scoring with 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 40 games, a pace that would challenge his single-season career high of 69 set with the Devils last season.
SECOND STAR -- MIKE SMITH, G, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Highlights
Smith stopped 89 of 93 shots in posting a 2-0-1 record with a 1.31 goals-against average and.957 save percentage as the Lightning (16-15-10) moved within one point of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Smith recorded 31 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins Dec. 28, stopped 33 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens Dec. 30 and finished the week by making 25 saves in a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Jan. 2. Smith has posted a 9-10-6 record with a 2.89 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and one shutout in 25 appearances this season.
THIRD STAR -- LOUI ERIKSSON, LW, DALLAS STARS Highlights
Eriksson scored five goals last week, helping the Stars (18-12-11) win two of three games. Eriksson recorded one goal in a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Dec. 29, notched his second career hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 31 and tallied his club's only goal in a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks Jan. 2. Eriksson ranks second on the Stars in scoring with 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 41 games, on pace to easily eclipse his career high of 63 points set last season with the Stars. He earned his first career selection to the Swedish Olympic Team Dec. 27.