Thomas, Thornton and Keith named 'Three Stars'

NEW YORK -- Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith have been named the NHL 'Three Stars' for the week ending Oct. 31.

FIRST STAR -- TIM THOMAS, G, BOSTON BRUINS

Thomas continued his spectacular start to the 2010-11 season by stopping all 49 shots he faced in shutout victories over a pair of Northeast Division rivals last week, helping the Bruins improve to 6-2-0. Thomas recorded 20 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 28 and stopped 29 shots for his 20th career NHL shutout in a 4-0 win over the Ottawa Senators Oct. 30. The 2009 Vezina Trophy winner, who went through a long and grueling process of rehabilitating his hip during the off-season, has won each of six starts with a 0.50 goals-against average, .984 save percentage and three shutouts. He is the first Bruins goaltender to start the season 6-0-0 since Hockey Hall of Famer Cecil 'Tiny' Thompson in 1937-38.

SECOND STAR -- JOE THORNTON, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Thornton led all scorers last week with eight points (three goals, five assists) in two games. Skating alongside Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley for the first time this season, Thornton registered his fourth career hat trick and figured in the scoring of all five Sharks goals in a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils Oct. 27. The new Sharks captain matched his single-game career high for points, as did Marleau (1-3--4) and Heatley (1-3--4). Thornton concluded the week by earning assists on each of the first three Sharks goals in a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Oct. 30. Thornton leads the Sharks and ranks fifth in League scoring with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in nine games.

THIRD STAR -- DUNCAN KEITH, D, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Keith led all defensemen in scoring last week with seven points (one goal, six assists), helping the Blackhawks win two of three starts. Keith notched multiple points in each game, beginning with two assists in a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Oct. 27. He recorded three assist in a 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Oct. 29 and tallied the game-winning goal plus two assists in a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild Oct. 30. The 2009-10 winner of the Norris Trophy as the League's top defenseman, Keith leads all players in average ice time per game (29:09) and has recorded 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 13 games.