Grubauer, Frontline Worker Maria Saavedra NHL's First Stars of the Week

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer and Maria Saavedra, a food service technician at UCHealth, have been named the NHL's First Stars for the week ending March 14, the league announced on Monday.
Grubauer was in net for each of Colorado's four games this past week and led the squad to a 3-1-0 mark, while Saavedra has helped prepare and deliver 1,500 food trays a day to patients ranging from the COVID-19 units to the burn center, postpartum and more.

Throughout the pandemic, visitor restrictions and other safety protocols have made it difficult for many patients during their stay at the hospital, but Saavedra has continued to take pride in delivering meals that not only provide diet-specific nourishment but have become a source of comfort. She loves to go the extra mile to connect with patients personally, offering them a source of joy and solace during an otherwise difficult time.

For Grubauer, he began the week by splitting a pair of games against the Arizona Coyotes, making 11 saves in a 3-2 loss last Monday followed by 13 stops in a 2-1 overtime win on Wednesday. On Friday, the 29-year-old stopped all 18 shots he faced against the Los Angeles Kings to record his 15th NHL shutout and career-high fourth of the season in a 2-0 victory.
His four clean sheets this year are the most in a campaign by an Avalanche goaltender since 2014-15 (Semyon Varlamov, five). It also marked his ninth shutout with Colorado, moving him into a tie with Peter Budaj for fourth place in franchise history.

On Sunday, Grubauer made 27 saves to record his 15th win of the season, the second most in the NHL this year. It was his 51st victory as a member of the Avalanche, moving him into a tie with Craig Anderson for ninth place in franchise history.
He also established a new career-best shutout streak this week, going 132:24 without allowing a goal. The streak began at the 18:05 mark of the second period against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday and lasted until Los Angeles scored 6:07 into the third period of the matchup on Sunday.
The Rosenheim, Germany, native only allowed two combined goals in the last three games and his five total goals allowed were tied for the least among netminders that started at least three games this week.
On the season, Grubauer has started 22 of the Avalanche's 26 games and ranks third in the NHL in goals-against average (1.91), sixth in save percentage (.923) and is tied for the most shutouts (four) and the second-most wins (15).
This is Grubauer's second time being named to the NHL's weekly stars and first since earning third star honors for the week of March 18-24, 2019. He is also the first Colorado player to be honored in the league's accolades this season.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl was named the NHL's second star for the week, while Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers earned third star honors.