December 18th

IGINLA, ZUBOV, AND LUPUL NHL'S THREE STARS

Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla, Dallas Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov and Philadelphia Flyers right wing Joffrey Lupul have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending December 16.

First Star -- Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames

Iginla scored a League-leading seven goals, including a pair of game-winners, as Calgary (16-13-5, 37 points) won four consecutive road games. He scored the game-tying goal at 19:50 of the third period in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Florida Panthers Dec. 11 and notched three goals, including the game-winner, an assist and a +4 rating in a 9-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 13. The Flames captain went on to score one goal in a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 14 and tallied his second four-point game of the week (two goals, two assists) and the game-winner in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues Dec. 16. Iginla leads the Flames and ranks second to Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier in the NHL scoring race with 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 34 games

Second Star -- Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars

Zubov tallied eight points (one goal, seven assists), helping the Stars post three consecutive victories. The top-scoring defenseman in franchise history recorded multiple points in each game, beginning with a four-point effort (one goal, three assists) in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 10. He recorded a pair of assists in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 13 and collected two more in a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks Dec. 15. Zubov leads NHL defensemen in scoring with 32 points (four goals, 28 assists) in 33 games.

Third Star -- Joffrey Lupul, Philadelphia Flyers

Lupul scored 10 points in four games, beginning with a career-high six points (three goals, three assists) in an 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 11. It marked the highest single-game point total by a Flyers player since Eric Lindros' 4-2--6 in a 6-3 victory at Toronto on March 19, 1997. Lupul notched his second hat trick of the week in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 15 and recorded an assist in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils Dec. 16. Lupul ranks third on the Flyers in scoring with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 31 games.


PREDS SIGN 1ST ROUND PICK

The Nashville Predators signed first-round draft pick Jonathon Blum to an entry-level contract on Monday. The 23rd overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft has nine goals and 39 points in 35 games with the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants this season. Blum, 18, has also been named to the U.S. roster for the world junior championships to be held later this month in the Czech Republic.


MORRISON OUT 3 MONTHS

Vancouver Canucks forward Brendan Morrison will be sidelined for up to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on his right wrist. The 32-year-old had been playing in pain all season after hurting that wrist in a pre-season game, but did post eight goals and 12 assists in 30 games before being shut down.

With the injury Morrison's "Iron Man" streak ended at 542 consecutive games played, dating back to Feb. 27, 2000, and was the longest active run in the NHL. In 11 seasons with New Jersey and Vancouver, the 39th overall pick in the 1993 draft by the Devils has totaled 158 goals and 469 points in 665 games.


AMP ENERGY NHL WINTER CLASSIC

NBC Sports announced that Bob Costas will host NBC's broadcast coverage of the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins on New Years Day at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, the first U.S outdoor game in NHL history.

Attendance at the Winter Classic is expected to surpass the NHL single-game record, set Nov 22, 2003 when the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers drew 57,167 to the Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, the first outdoor game in NHL history. Ralph Wilson Stadium capacity exceeds 73,000 and tickets to the game sold out within several hours of going on sale.

Following the outdoor game, NBC will start it's NHL "Game of the Week" coverage on Sunday, Jan 20. and for the first time in three season's will offer flexible scheduling for it's nine regular season Sunday afternoon broadcasts. NBC will be able to select from up to four games, and will announce the "Game of the Week" thirteen days prior to broadcast, and the other games will remain available to the teams' regional carrier.


SIMON LEAVES THE ISLAND

Chris Simon left the New York Islanders on Monday, saying he needed time away form hockey following his latest penalty for attempting to injure the Penguins Jarkko Ruutu on Saturday night, when he stepped on the back Ruutu's leg with his stake.

Simon will meet with league disciplinarian Colin Campbell sometime in the next few days, and could be in line for another lengthy suspension, after missing the first five games of this season while completing a 25-game ban handed down in March.

Despite that long suspension, the Islanders signed him to a one-year deal this summer for $475,000 that included $325,000 in potential bonuses based on games played.


WILD RETURN HOME

After back-to-back wins in Los Angeles and Anaheim, which unless you had the NHL Centre Ice Package you couldn't see locally as FSN/Channel 45 decided not to make the trip to California, the Wild return home after going 3-2 on their five-game road trip and will host the Nashville Predators at Xcel Energy Center. Be sure to log onto TheStitch tomorrow morning as Pete Waggoner will have the Minnesota Wild Two-Minute Score game re-cap.

The Wild will also host the New York Rangers on Thursday and the Red Wings on Saturday during this short three-game home-stand.