Red Wings' Shanahan named NHL Offensive Player of the Week; Panthers' Luongo is Top Defensive Player
NEW YORK/TORONTO - Detroit Red
Wings forward Brendan Shanahan, who tallied nine points (two goals,
seven assists) in four games, has been named the NHL's Offensive Player
of the Week for the period ending Sunday, December 18. Florida
goaltender Roberto Luongo, who backstopped the Panthers to a 3-1-0
record with a 2.25 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in
four games, is the League's Defensive Player of the Week.
Brendan Shanahan
Detroit
center Pavel Datsyuk, who posted eight points (4-4--8 in four games)
and Florida right wing Nathan Horton (5-1--6 in four games) were
runners-up for offensive honors, while goaltenders Martin Biron of the
Buffalo Sabres (3-0-0, 2.98 GAA), Martin Gerber of the Carolina
Hurricanes (3-0-0, 1.67 GAA) and Michael Garnett of the Atlanta
Thrashers (3-0-0, 2.92 GAA) were runners-up for the defensive award.
Shanahan posted points in all four games as Detroit went 2-1-1. He
opened the week with one assist in a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh
Penguins on Dec. 12 and recorded five points (one goal, four assists)
in a 7-6 loss at Atlanta. He tallied one assist in a 3-2 OT loss to
Florida on Dec. 15 and finished the week with one goal and one assist
in a 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 17.
Shanahan is second on the Red Wings and tied for 16th in NHL scoring
with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists). His 19 goals have raised his
career total to 577, 15th on the all-time goal scoring list. The Red
Wings (22-9-3, 47 points) lead the Central Division and Western
Conference.
Luongo began the week by making 31 saves as the Panthers defeated the
Nashville Predators, 7-3, Dec 13. On Dec. 15, he made 34 saves as
Florida defeated the Red Wings 3-2 in overtime. He made 29 saves,
including a penalty shot by Atlanta's Marian Hossa, as the Panthers
lost 2-1 to the Thrashers on Dec. 17 and stopped 53 shots as the
Panthers defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 Dec. 18.
Appearing in 32 of Florida's 35 games this season, Luongo has posted a
record of 12-15-4, a 3.17 goals-against average, .913 save percentage
and two shutouts. The Panthers are fourth in the Southeast Division
with 28 points (12-19-4) and host the Buffalo Sabres Thursday at Bank
Atlantic Center.
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