Battle of the First and Second Stars Thursday at the X
Posted on October 20th, 2008 – 11:07 AMBy Michael Russo
Brian Stensaas will update you after today’s practice, but Thomas Vanek and Niklas Backstrom, the NHL’s First and Second Stars of the Week, will go head-to-head when the Sabres and Wild meet Thursday.
By the way, Stensaas emailed me that of the four injured regulars, defenseman Marek Zidlicky (ankle) is practicing today.
VANEK, BACKSTROM AND BRUNNSTROM NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK
TORONTO (October 20, 2008) – Buffalo Sabres left wing Thomas Vanek,
Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom and Dallas Stars rookie left
wing Fabian Brunnstrom have been named the NHL’s ‘Three Stars’ for the week
ending October 19.
FIRST STAR – THOMAS VANEK, LW, BUFFALO SABRES
The 24-year-old Vanek picked up eight points (six goals, two assists), in a
week that saw Buffalo post a 3-0-1 record. Vanek has nine points (7-2–9)
in his first five games and is off to the best start of his four-year
career, posting at least one goal in each of Buffalo’s first five games.
Included in Vanek’s League-leading goal total last week were shorthanded
goals in consecutive games (Oct. 13 at NYI, Oct. 15 at NYR), and a
power-play goal in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss in Atlanta. Vanek also has
a League-best 32 shots in his five games.
SECOND STAR – NIKLAS BACKSTROM, G, MINNESOTA WILD
Backstrom posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.30 goals-against average, .952
save percentage and one shutout as the Wild won three consecutive road
games. Backstrom turned aside 80 of 84 shots for the week, beginning with a
24-save performance in a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Oct. 14. He
stopped 24 shots in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Oct. 16 and
finished off the week by posting a shutout in a 32-save performance against
Tampa Bay on Oct. 18. He has four wins on the season.
THIRD STAR – FABIAN BRUNNSTROM, LW, DALLAS STARS
In his NHL debut on Oct.15, Brunnstrom scored a hat trick against the
Nashville Predators, including the game-winning goal, becoming just the
third player in NHL history to score three times in his NHL debut — Alex
Smart scored three times in his debut for Montreal in 1943, and Real
Cloutier matched the feat with Quebec in 1979. Brunnstrom rounded out the
week with a power-play goal against Colorado on Saturday.
16 Responses to "Battle of the First and Second Stars Thursday at the X"
Mikko continues to fly under the radar, I don’t think that will last much longer….
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
From the last thread:
Goody:
The reason why calling out Gaborik works is that he himself realizes that he wasn’t working hard enough or doing things wrong. After Lemaire’s remarks, Gaborik turned it around. Pouliot does not seem to realize what his mistakes are. He continues to make them over and over. Or he isn’t working as hard.
Against Tampa Bay, there was a couple of times where the opponent dumped in the puck in the corner and Pouliot was closer to the puck than our defensemen. He let the defensemen go into the corner while he stood in the center of the offensive zone. One time, I think Schultz gave him a lok before going into the corner to fight for the puck. He could have saved a play and gotten the puck out of the zone instead of waiting for the defensemen.
sunshine, I don’t want to sound as if I’m defending Pouliot, but that situation and other hesitant play may be due ‘overthinking’. I can see where he might have been trying to stay in postion, ‘let the D do their job, I’ll do mine’. Maybe the previous game (or intermission) JL ranted about players staying in position so he was consciously trying to do that? Maybe, maybe not.
On Vanek ‘coming home’: could we be so lucky that he meets up with some old friends and isn’t quite in top form on Thursday? 
They have to make two moves at once to fit Gaborik. There doesn’t seem to be other rumors about the other guys moving.
and why would you until a deal in principle is inked between DR and gainey?
is it not possible that the rumour as stated is discussed between mtl and min and agreed to and the wild give mtl 2 weeks to move salary? We don’t have to ask permission to move #10 so he don’t need to know. rumour gets out then the rumour gets out but it still can be denied by the GM’s. Montreal isn’t going to dump salary in hopes of landing #10.
kj i did say good GM’s.
Of course we don’t have to ask #10. He doesn’t have a NTC. Maybe Gainey might want to talk to his agent to see if he would sign a deal with Montreal.
At least we agree that MTL has to make another move to add Gaborik to their roster. And that was my point.
Michael and Brian-
Thanks for the great information and updates!
Anyone else read M 03’s post and think “Michael and Brian who?”
It took me a few seconds to figure out he was talking about the Don and Stencils.
Congrats to Thomas Vanek. One of the most exciting players in the league.
Take that Garth Snow. Another Gopher succeeds at the next level.
LOL, Goody. I scrolled up to see if a couple of Russovillians names Michael and Brian had just posted informative comments.
Michael and Brian.
Weren’t they the skating duo in Blades of Glory??? 
you guys crack me up.
okay it should be - the Don and Mr. Stencilious. Gotta feed those egos.
Food!
It is highly amusing to read these comments and watch as the gravity of their content lessens more and more.
Backstrom deserves it, his performance in the game VS the Lightning was too good to be unnoticed.
The game might have seemed a little uneventful but he pulled off a shutout against a good team.
The lightning even had Walz, who more than likely made big changes in the way Tampa played against MN.
