One hot Swede, Samuelsson named league's first star

Vancouver Canucks right wing Mikael Samuelsson, Phoenix Coyotes right wing Lee Stempniak and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending March 14.

Samuelsson registered his first NHL hat trick and finished with six goals and 10 points to help the Northwest Division-leading Canucks go 3-0-1 and grab the First Star.

The veteran Swede, who was left off the Olympic roster, has nine goals and four assists during a seven-game point streak.

Stempniak earned the Second Star after scoring five times to help the surprising Coyotes to a spotless 3-0-0 week.

Phoenix, which acquired Stempniak from Toronto at the NHL trade deadline, has won five straight games overall and sits fourth in the Western Conference entering Monday's action. The Coyotes haven't reached the postseason since 2002.

Rinne was named the Third Star after posting a 1.44 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in backstopping the playoff-hopeful Predators to road wins over Anaheim (1-0) and Los Angeles (3-2).

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  Vancouver Canucks' Mikael Samuelsson, left, of Sweden, celebrates his goal with Ryan Kesler during first period NHL action against the New York Rangers in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday November 3, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck