Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday after recording eight points in three games.
Spezza had three goals and five assists to help the Senators post a 2-1-0 record last week.
Entering play Monday night, he leads Ottawa in scoring and ranks seventh in the NHL with 36 points, just three behind league leader Phil Kessel of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne was named the second star and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin took the third star.
Rinne posted three straight victories and made at least 35 saves in each start. He matched his season high with 39 saves plus three shootout stops in a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 17.
Malkin also had eight points (5-3-8), including the seventh hat trick of his NHL career in an 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 17.
He has 12 points during a five-game scoring streak.