Pastrnak of Bruins, Boston respiratory therapist NHL First Stars of Week

NEW YORK - Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) respiratory therapist Amy Ginter have been named the NHL's "First Stars" for the week ending Feb. 7.

Throughout the 2020-21 season the NHL is celebrating the remarkable efforts of the off-ice stars who make it possible for us to play our games amid a pandemic by honoring frontline healthcare heroes from the regions represented by the League's weekly and monthly "Stars."
Ginter, a Bruins season-ticket holder since 2017, has been a respiratory therapist at Boston's BIDMC for 13 years. "Respiratory therapy, as an occupation, is not widely known or understood by the general population, but we are a key part of the bedside care team with nurses and doctors," explains Ginter, who has worked on a COVID-19 crisis assignment during the pandemic. "Our responsibility is the patient's airway, so we initiate and manage ventilators (life support) as well as other means of ventilatory support." Coronavirus has presented significant challenges that she never has witnessed before, but Ginter is proud of her profession and feels blessed to be part of such an integral team.
Rounding out the "Three Stars" of the week are Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kaneand Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry. More on each NHL player's performance can be found below:

FIRST STAR - DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS

Pastrnak led the NHL with 5-2-7 in three contests to help the Bruins (8-1-2, 18 points) post a perfect week and tie their franchise record for points through the opening 11 games of a season, also achieved in 2019-20 (8-1-2), 2012-13 (8-1-2), 1976-77 (9-2-0), 1941-42 (9-2-0) and 1929-30 (9-2-0). Down 3-0 midway through the second period, Pastrnak scored twice to spark Boston's 5-3 comeback victory against the Washington Capitals Feb. 1. He then guided the Bruins to a pair of come-from-behind wins over the Philadelphia Flyers, registering both his ninth career hat trick and four-point performance (3-1-4) in a 4-3 overtime triumph Feb. 3 as well as an assist in a 2-1 victory Feb. 5. The 24-year-old Havirov, Czech Republic, native and reigning Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner (along with Alex Ovechkin) has found the scoresheet in all four of his 2020-21 appearances (5-3-8) after producing career highs in goals (48), assists (47) and points (95) last season (70 GP).

SECOND STAR - PATRICK KANE, RW, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Kane ranked second in the League with 2-5-7 in three outings to guide the Blackhawks (5‑4-4, 14 points) to a 2-0-1 week, lifting them to points in nine of their last 10 contests (5-1-4). He scored once in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Feb. 2. Kane then recorded 1-3-4, including three third-period points, in a 6-4 triumph over the Hurricanes Feb. 4. It marked Kane's 14th career four-point game (all w/ CHI), sixth in franchise history behind Stan Mikita(39), Denis Savard(33), Bobby Hull(31), Jeremy Roenick(20) and Steve Larmer(15). Kane finished the week with assists on both Blackhawks goals in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars Feb. 7. The 32-year-old Buffalo native - who places sixth in the NHL with 6-11-17 through 13 games this season - sits five goals shy of becoming the ninth U.S.-born player to reach the 400-goal milestone (395-644-1,039 in 986 GP).

THIRD STAR - JEFF PETRY, D, MONTREAL CANADIENS

Petry paced defensemen with 4-2-6 and led all skaters with a +7 rating as the Canadiens (8-2-2, 18 points) won three of their four contests. He accumulated five points during a pair of wins against the Vancouver Canucks, notching 2-1-3 (including his 14th career game-winning goal) in a 6-2 triumph Feb. 1 and 1-1-2 in a 5-3 victory Feb. 2. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators Feb. 4, Petry rebounded with his sixth goal of the campaign - tops among blueliners - in a 2-1 win over Ottawa Feb. 6. The 33-year-old Ann Arbor, Mich., native has played in 12 games this season, ranking second among defensemen with 6-8-14 while sharing first place in the League (w/ teammate Joel Edmundson) with a +14 rating.