Evgeni Malkin NHL's Third Star Of The Week

The Penguins' Evgeni Malkin has been named the NHL's Third Star Of The Week, behind the Senators' Jason Spezza and the Predators' Pekka Rinne. 

Malkin picked up a goal against Detroit last Tuesday, then a goal and an assist against the Senators on Friday. (Spezza had two goals and two assists in that game.) But his really big performance came against the Sabres on Saturday - he had a hat trick and two assists as the Pens finished with eight goals. Malkin has points in five straight games, and the Pens, who have lost four of their last six, will need him to continue to come up big to keep pace while they wait yet again for the return of Sidney Crosby.

Spezza also has a five-game points streak. In addition to his performance against the Pens, he also had two-point games against the Bruins and Sabres last week. Rinne picked up three wins last week, in which he gave up a combined total of five goals and registered an average of 37 saves in each.

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