Wild’s Staal named NHL #1 star

Minnesota Wild centerman Eric Staal was named the NHL’s #1 star of the week for games played last week. Staal paced the NHL with 4-3—7 in four games to propel the Wild (35-20-7, 77 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Central Division.

Staal collected one assist in a 5‑3 win over the New York Islanders Feb. 19, followed by one goal in a 4-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils Feb. 22. Staal then registered 2-2—4, his 13th career four-point performance and first since March 8, 2015 (0-4—4 w/ CAR), in a 4-1 triumph over the New York Rangers Feb. 23. He capped the week with his 30th goal of the season, reaching the milestone for the first time since 2010-11 and sixth time overall, in a 3-2 overtime victory against the San Jose Sharks Feb. 25. The 33-year-old Thunder Bay, Ont., native shares seventh place in the NHL with 30 goals and ranks 20th overall with 59 points in 62 contests this season (30-29—59).