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NHL: Anze Kopitar, 3 Stars Of The Week (Videos)

By Mike Majeski

Dec 20, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) and Arizona Coyotes center Joe Vitale (14) during a face-off in the first period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) and Arizona Coyotes center Joe Vitale (14) during a face-off in the first period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taking a look at the three stars from this past week’s NHL action

Welcome to another edition of the NHL Three Stars of the Week where we will recognize three players who had outstanding performances during this past week’s NHL action. Check back every Sunday for a new list of three stars for the previous week’s play.

Don’t agree with the players you see listed? Leave a comment below!

No. 1 Star: Anze Kopitar

Kopitar has been on an absolute tear in his last three games. He had one assist in Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Two nights later Kopitar set a career high record for points with four assists and one goal in a wild rematch with the Blues – Los Angeles went on to win 6-4. Kopitar assisted on Marian Gaborik’s two goals, Jeff Carter’s game-tying goal, as well as Jake Muzzin’s game-winning goal. As if that weren’t enough, Kopitar assisted on three of the Kings four goals in last night’s win over the Arizona Coyotes. Eight of his 15 assists this season have come in the last three games.

No. 2 Star: Marc-Andre Fleury

Fleury made 29 saves in a 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night – giving him a league leading sixth shutout this season. Fleury followed that performance up by stopping 45 of the Florida Panthers 46 shots last night, backstopping the Penguins to a 3-1 win. Fleury struggled for the Penguins in last year’s playoffs and with all of the upheaval in the Penguins front office, it wasn’t certain he would continue to be the Penguins starter. The Penguins set those doubts aside by signing Fleury to a four-year, $23 million extension. If he can continue to perform like he has the last two games, that extension will be well worth it for the Penguins.

No. 3 Star: Rick Nash

Nash scored a pair of goals in a 5-2 Rangers win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night – extending his point streak to a career-best 11 games (that streak came to an end last night against the Carolina Hurricanes). Nash opened the scoring Tuesday night on a breakaway goal – beating Flames goaltender on a backhand-to-forehand move. He then gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead later in the second period when Derek Stepan set him up on a 2-on-1 break. The Rangers have now won five games in row, including last night’s shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Nash’s 11 game points streak tied Evgeni Malkin for the longest point streak so far this season.

Next: Who are the NHL's most dominant offensive players of all-time?

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