Husso named NHL Second Star of the Week
FIRST STAR - CHRIS KREIDER, LW, NEW YORK RANGERS
Kreider topped the NHL with 5-2-7 in three games to propel the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers (27-11-4, 58 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He registered one of five unanswered goals as New York overcame a two-goal deficit for a 6-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 19. Kreider then potted 1-1-2, his 12th multi-point performance of the season, in a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Jan. 21. He capped the week by matching a career high with four points (3-1-4), scoring once while shorthanded, at even strength and on the power play to record his fifth career hat trick in a 7-3 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 22. The 30-year-old Boxford, Mass., native has found the back of the net in five straight contests (dating to Jan. 13: 8-2-10) to move into a share of the League lead with a career-high 29 goals in 42 total outings this season (29-13-42). Kreider, who is set to participate in the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, also ranks among the top 2021-22 performers in power-play goals (1st; 14), power-play points (3rd; 20), shooting percentage (10th; 22.1%) and points (16th; 42).
SECOND STAR - VILLE HUSSO, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Husso stopped 97 of the 101 shots he faced to go 3-0-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and one shutout as the Blues (25-11-5, 55 points) posted a perfect week to move into second place in the Central Division. He made 32 saves in a 5-3 win against the Nashville Predators Jan. 17. Husso then earned his third career shutout (and second of the season) with 27 stops in a 5-0 triumph over the Seattle Kraken Jan. 21. He finished the week with 38 saves, including 20 in the first period, in a 3-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks Jan. 23. The 26-year-old Helsinki, Finland, native - who has won five straight decisions dating to Jan. 7 - has appeared in 12 total games this season, ranking second in the NHL with both a 1.93 goals-against average and .941 save percentage while compiling an 8-2-1 record.
THIRD STAR - TIMO MEIER, RW, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Meier paced the NHL with six goals in three outings, highlighted by the League's first five-goal performance since March 5, 2020, to help the Sharks (21-19-2) maintain the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference. He set a franchise record with five goals (including three in the opening 19:09 of the game) in a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 17. Meier then scored once in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken Jan. 20 before being held without a point in a 7-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 22. The 25-year-old Herisau, Switzerland, native - who also will be in Las Vegas for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend - has skated in 37 total contests this season, placing among the League leaders in game-winning goals (2nd; 6), shots on goal (5th; 152), goals (t-8th; 21) and points (9th; 46).