Ennis, Suter and Lundqvist named stars of the week

NEW YORK – Buffalo Sabres center Tyler Ennis, Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Dec. 14.

FIRST STAR – TYLER ENNIS, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Ennis shared second in the NHL with five points (1-4—5) in three outings, helping the Sabres (12-16-2, 26 points) post their third three-game winning streak of the season. He opened the week by recording the lone marker, his third career game-winning goal and first since Dec. 3, 2011, in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 9. He then matched career highs for assists and points in one game with three helpers in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames Dec. 11. Ennis capped the week with his 13th assist of the season in a 4-3 overtime triumph against the Florida Panthers Dec. 13. The 25-year-old Edmonton, Alta., native leads the Sabres with 21 points in 30 games this season. The 26th overall selection by Buffalo in the 2008 NHL Draft, Ennis has 77-110—187 in 297 career games, all with the Sabres.

SECOND STAR – RYAN SUTER, D, MINNESOTA WILD

Suter led all defensemen and tied for second in the League with five points (0-5—5) in three starts as the Wild (16-11-1, 33 points) gained four of a possible six standings points. He matched career highs for assists and points in one game with three helpers in a 5-4 comeback victory over the New York Islanders Dec. 9. After being held off the scoresheet in a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks Dec. 11, Suter capped the week with two assists – his third multi-point performance of the season – in a 4-3 shootout win over the Arizona Coyotes Dec. 13. The 29-year-old Madison, Wis., native ranks third on the Wild with 1-17—18 in 26 games this season. The seventh overall selection by Nashville in the 2003 NHL Draft, Suter also leads the NHL in average time on ice per game (29:27).

THIRD STAR – HENRIK LUNDQVIST, G, NEW YORK RANGERS

Lundqvist went 3-0-0 with a 1.30 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and one shutout to propel the Rangers (14-10-4, 32 points) into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. He began the week with 32 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 8. Lundqvist then posted back-to-back wins over the weekend, making 29 saves in a 5-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 13 and stopping all 16 shots he faced in a 2 0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 14. With his performance, the 32-year-old Are, Sweden, native tied Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fluery for the most shutouts in the NHL this season (5). He also recorded his 55th career shutout to move past Bernie Parent and Ed Giacomin for sole possession of 20th place in NHL history.