April 2nd

A.O, FLEURY, FRANZEN NAMED NHL 'THREE STARS' FOR MARCH

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Detroit Red Wings left wing Johan Franzen have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the month of March.

First Star -- Alex Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Ovechkin led all NHL scorers in March with 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) and recorded a +17 rating in 14 games as the Capitals went 10-4-0 in pursuit of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Ovechkin recorded points in 11 of 14 games, including nine multiple- point performances. He recorded goals in nine contests, including his 50th of the season against Boston, Mar. 3. Two of his goals were game-winners, against Boston, Mar. 3 and Calgary, Mar. 12. On Mar. 21 in Atlanta, he became the first player to notch 60 goals in a season since Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr both did it in 1995-96. Entering play Tuesday night, Ovechkin leads the League in goals (62), points (109), power-play goals (21), game-winning goals (10) and shots (430).

Second Star -- Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Pittsburgh Penguins

Fleury posted a 9-1-1 record, 1.44 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 games as Pittsburgh (46-26-8, 100 points) moved into first place in the Eastern Conference. He allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of 11 games, including shutouts against Tampa Bay, Mar. 4 and New Jersey, Mar. 25. In 33 appearances this season, Fleury has posted a 18-9-2 record, 2.38 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and four shutouts.

Third Star -- Johan Franzen, LW, Detroit Red Wings

Franzen tied for eighth among NHL scorers for the month with 18 points (14 goals, 4 assists) and recorded six game-winning goals in 13 games. He recorded goals in 11 of 13 games and points in 12 of 13 games. He recorded the game-winning goal against Buffalo, Mar. 2, St. Louis, Mar. 5 and 25 and Nashville, Mar. 9, 20 and 30. Franzen has appeared in 69 games for the Red Wings, recording 36 points (26 goals, 10 assists) with a team-leading eight game-winning goals. The Red Wings went 10-2-1 in March, improving their NHL-best record to 52-20-7, 111 points as they look to win their sixth Presidents’ Trophy.


OIL SIGN LERG FROM MSU

The Edmonton Oilers have signed free agent forward Bryan Lerg from Michigan State University.

Lerg signed a two-year deal worth $962,000, with $175,000 in bonuses.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Livonia, Michigan has 20 goals and 19 assists in 42 games this year for the Spartans.

Lerg was a member of the U.S. under-18 team for two seasons.