March 25th

OVECHKIN, TOSKALA, BRIERE NHL 'THREE STARS' OF THE WEEK

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala and Philadelphia Flyers centre Daniel Briere have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending March 23.

FIRST STAR -- ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Named the NHL's 'First Star' for the second time in three weeks and for the third time this season, Ovechkin led all scorers with seven points (three goals, four assists) in three games as the Capitals (37-31-8, 82 points) won two of three games to start their six-game road trip. Ovechkin notched one goal and two assists in a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators Mar. 18, becoming the first player in franchise history to record multiple 100-point seasons and the fastest NHL player to reach 300 career points since Peter Forsberg in 1997-98. Ovechkin closed the week with two goals and two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Mar. 21, reaching the 60-goal mark for the first time in the NHL since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96. Ovechkin leads the League in goals (60), points (106), power-play goals (21), game-winning goals (10) and shots (410).

Second Star -- Vesa Toskala, G, Toronto Maple Leafs

Toskala posted a 3-0-0 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and .940 save percentage as the Maple Leafs (35-31-10, 80 points) kept their playoff hopes alive with three road victories. He stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders Mar. 18, made 35 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Mar. 21 and closed the week with a 32-save effort in a 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators Mar. 22. Toskala has posted a record of 32-22-6 with a 2.60 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and three shutouts in 62 appearances this season

Third Star -- Daniel Briere, C, Philadelphia Flyers

Briere recorded six points (three goals, three assists) as the Flyers (38-28-10, 86 points) posted three consecutive victories and climbed to seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Briere notched one assist in a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Mar. 18, tallied two goals in a 4-3 shootout win over the New York Rangers Mar. 21 and notched one goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders Mar. 23. Briere ranks second on the Flyers in scoring with 68 points (29 goals, 39 assists) in 75 games.


NHL FREE AGENT DAY TO REMAIN JULY 1

The National Hockey League Players' Association has turned thumbs down on an NHL request to move the beginning of free agency from July 1 to July 7. The league had wanted a switch to avoid conflicts with both the Canada Day holiday (July 1) in Canada as well as Independence Day (July 4) in the United States.

But the NHLPA feels moving the free-agency period will create a negative ripple effect on other key dates.

"When you move the free agency date, even by six days, it impacts other marketplace dates and has the potential to prejudice certain players who are actively in the contract signing/arbitration window," NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly said.  "After consulting with various players and agents, it was not even a close call."