Nash, Rafalski and Ward named Stars of Week

NEW YORK (Jan. 5) -- Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Rick Nash, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski and Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward have been named the NHL's Three Stars for the week ending Jan. 4.

FIRST STAR -- Rick Nash, LW, Blue Jackets

Nash led all NHL scorers for the week with nine points (two goals, seven assists), helping the Blue Jackets (18-17-4) to three wins in four road games. He scored a goal and was credited with an assist in a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 29, recorded an assist in a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 31 and posted a season-high four points (one goal, three assists) and a +4 rating in a 6-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 2. He finished the week with a pair of assists in a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 3. The Blue Jackets captain leads the club in scoring with 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games.

SECOND STAR -- Brian Rafalski, D, Red Wings

Rafalski had six points (one goal, five assists), including five in Detroit's home-and-home sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks, as the Red Wings (26-7-5) went 3-0-0 and increased their Central Division lead to eight points. He had two assists in a 4-0 home victory over the Blackhawks on Dec. 30, tallied a goal and two assists in the 6-4 win over Chicago in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day, and was credited with an assist in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 3. Rafalski ranks third among NHL defensemen in scoring this season with 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 38 games.

THIRD STAR -- Cam Ward, G, Carolina Hurricanes

Ward had a 3-0-0 record, 1.33 goals-against average and .944 save percentage, helping the Hurricanes (20-15-5) climb to seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. He made 20 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 31, stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 2 and recorded 17 saves in a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 3. Ward improved his season record to 15-9-3 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and one shutout in 28 games.

Prior Stars

Dec. 29

First Star --- LW Alex Ovechkin, Washington

Second Star -- C Bryan Little, Atlanta

Third Star -- G Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles

Dec. 22

First Star -- LW Loui Eriksson, Dallas

Second Star -- C Jeff Carter, Philadelphia

Third Star -- LW Patrik Elias, New Jersey

Dec. 15

First Star -- RW Phil Kessel, Boston

Second Star -- RW Petr Sykora, Pittsburgh

Third Star -- LW Thomas Vanek, Buffalo

Dec. 8

First Star -- G Pekka Rinne, Nashville

Second Star -- C Jonathan Toews, Chicago

Third Star -- C Jason Spezza, Ottawa

Dec. 1

First Star -- C Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

Second Star -- G Jonas Hiller, Anaheim

Third Star -- G Chris Mason, St. Louis

Nov. 24

First Star -- C Marc Savard, Boston

Second Star -- C Henrik Sedin, Vancouver

Third Star -- G Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago

Nov. 17

First Star -- C Nicklas Backstrom, Washington

Second Star -- LW Alex Ovechkin, Washington

Third Star -- G Dan Ellis, Nashville

Nov. 10

First Star -- G Roberto Luongo, Vancouver

Second Star -- G Steve Mason, Columbus

Third Star -- G Brent Johnson, Washington

Nov. 3

First Stars -- C Ryan Getzlaf, RW Corey Perry and RW Teemu Selanne, Anaheim

Second Star -- G Tim Thomas, Boston

Third Star -- LW Simon Gagne, Philadelphia

Oct. 27

First Star -- RW Jarome Iginla, Calgary

Second Star -- G Peter Budaj, Colorado

Third Star -- RW Marian Hossa, Detroit

Oct. 20

First Star -- LW Thomas Vanek, Buffalo

Second Star -- G Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota

Third Star -- LW Fabian Brunnstrom, Dallas

Oct. 13

First Star -- F Daniel Sedin, Vancouver

Second Star -- LW David Booth, Florida

Third Star -- G Martin Brodeur, New Jersey

Stars of the Month

December

First Star -- G Manny Fernandez/ G Tim Thomas, Boston

Second Star -- LW Jeff Carter, Philadelphia

Third Star -- LW Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

November

First Star -- LW Alex Ovechkin, Washington

Second Star -- C Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh

Third Star -- G Joey MacDonald, N.Y. Islanders

October

First Star -- LW Alexander Semin, Washington

Second Star -- G Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers

First Star -- F Daniel Sedin, Vancouver

Rookies of the Month

December -- G Steve Mason, Columbus

November -- G Steve Mason, Columbus

October -- C Derick Brassard, Columbus

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)