December 26th

GABORIK, LEHTONEN AND ARNOTT NAMED NHL 'THREE STARS' OF THE WEEK

Minnesota Wild right wing Marian Gaborik, Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen and Nashville Predators center Jason Arnott have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending December 23.

FIRST STAR -- MARIAN GABORIK, RW, MINNESOTA WILD

Gaborik led all NHL scorers with eight points (six goals, two assists) as the Wild won two of three games for the week. He recorded points in all three games, including a five-goal, six-point performance in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers Dec. 20. Gaborik scored one goal in the opening period and two in each of the second and third, becoming the first player to tally five times in one game since Detroit's Sergei Fedorov in a 5-4 overtime victory over Washington on Dec. 26, 1996 and the first to do in regulation time since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux in an 8-4 victory over St. Louis on March 26, 1996. Gaborik also recorded a goal in a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators Dec. 18 and had an assist in a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 22.

SECOND STAR -- KARI LEHTONEN, G, ATLANTA THRASHERS

Lehtonen posted a record of 4-0-0, a 1.96 goals-against average and .935 save percentage as the Thrashers (18-17-1, 37 points) posted four wins for the week. He recorded 32 saves in a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 18, made 28 saves in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 20 and stopped 37 of 39 shots and both shootout attempts in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens Dec. 22. He finished the week by making 18 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues Dec. 23. Lehtonen has posted a 6-6-0 record with a 3.20 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and one shutout in 14 appearances this season.

THIRD STAR -- JASON ARNOTT, C, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Arnott ranked second among NHL scorers with eight points (four goals, four assists) in four games. He recorded one goal and one assist in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild Dec. 18, notched one assist in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Dec. 19 and recorded three goals, including the game-winner, and one assist in a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 22. Arnott finished the week recording one assist in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Dec. 23. Arnott leads the Predators in scoring with 29 points (12-17--29) in 33 games.


SHARKS FORWARD CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe was arrested early Monday on suspicion of drunken driving.

Clowe, who has been out of the Sharks lineup for two months after undergoing knee surgery, was stopped by police in suburban Los Gatos, Calif., for a minor traffic violation. Authorities said the 25-year-old player failed a field sobriety test and was booked into the Santa Clara County jail.

"I am embarrassed by what happened, but take full responsibility for this regrettable mistake," Clowe said. "For situations like I faced last evening, our team has a very clear alternative transportation policy in place.

"I failed to follow it, and for that I am deeply sorry."

Clowe, who was released later Monday, is the second Sharks player in two seasons to be arrested on suspicion of drunken driving despite a specific team policy to prevent it. The first was forward Mark Bell, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The San Jose organization guarantees reimbursement for a taxi or car service to any Sharks player or staff member who needs transportation.

"While we are extremely disappointed by his error in judgment, Ryane has stepped up and acknowledged that he made a serious mistake and is preparing to take responsibility for his actions," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said.

In Bell's case, he was arrested over the Labour Day weekend last year after driving his rented car into a pickup truck at a stop sign in Milpitas, a town in the San Jose foothills.

The driver of the pickup required stitches to close a gash in his head.

Bell, who was traded to the Leafs last summer, pleaded no contest to drunken-driving charges last September and was sentenced to six months in jail. He will begin serving his time after the NHL season ends.

Clowe, who's in his second full season with the Sharks, had three goals and three assists in 11 games this season before tearing several ligaments in his knee during a game against Columbus on Oct. 27. He earned a regular job in San Jose last season with career highs of 16 goals, 18 assists and 78 penalty minutes in just 58 games, and had begun travelling with the Sharks again in recent weeks, but the team had no timetable for his return.


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