Pietrangelo, MacKinnon, McElhinney named NHL 3 stars of the week

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NEW YORK — St. Louis Blues defenceman Alex Pietrangelo, Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis McElhinney have been named the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Sunday.

Pietrangelo led the NHL with nine points (three goals, six assists) in four games to power the Blues to a 3-1-0 week and within one point of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Pietrangelo shares first in goals and is 10th in points among NHL defenceman with 15 goals and 35 assists in 68 games.

MacKinnon had six goals and two assists in four games as the Avalanche went 3-1-0 to climb into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, including a two-goal, one-assist performance in a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

He has at least three points in an NHL-best 13 games this season.

McElhinney went 3-0-0 with a 1.57 goals-against average, .955 save percentage and one shutout for the Maple Leafs in relief of injured starter Frederik Andersen. He closed the week with 33 saves for his eighth career shutout in a 4-0 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

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