Matthews, Oettinger and Laferriere Named NHL Stars of the Week

The National Hockey League (NHL), North America's top professional ice hockey league, has announced its three stars for the past week. The first star is Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, the second is Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, and the third is New York Rangers left winger Alexis Lafreniere. Two of these clubs include players from the Latvian national team.

Matthews, first star

Matthews scored three goals and collected nine points in three games. Against the Nashville Predators, Toronto erased a three-goal deficit and won 5-4 in overtime, with Matthews scoring the winning goal after earlier setting up three others. In a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche he again had four points, with two goals and two assists.

Latvian national team center Teodors Blugers has played for Toronto since the start of this season.

Oettinger, second star

The Dallas goaltender allowed just one goal in three games and stopped 98.3% of the shots he faced. He made 13 saves in a 5-0 win over the San Jose Sharks and, three days later, 26 saves in a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Oettinger's shutout streak reached 188 minutes 52 seconds. In the week's third game, Dallas lost in a shootout to the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Arturs Silovs in goal for Pittsburgh.

Lafreniere, third star

Lafreniere scored five goals and recorded seven points in three games, helping the Rangers to two wins. In a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders he recorded the third hat trick of his career, and for the second time finished a game with four points.

Latvian national team defenseman Alberts Smits has played for the Rangers since the start of this season.