Henrik Sedin has been named the National Hockey League's second star for the month of March. Sedin is joined by, Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes (first star) and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets (third star) as the NHL 'Three Stars' of the month.
Henrik led all Canucks skaters during the month of March with 19 points (7-12-19). Included in that total were three game-winners. He registered points (4-6-10) in five consecutive games to end the month and helped Vancouver take over the Northwest division lead with an 11-3-1 record in March.
Henrik currently sits eighth overall in the League in assists (57) and tenth overall in game-winning goals (7). During the month of March, Henrik recorded six multi-point games including three 3-point outings. Sedin has set a single-season career high in goals (19) this season and is five points shy of his career-best point total of 81 set in 2006-07.
The Ornskoldsvik native currently leads all Canucks in assists and holds the franchise record for most assists in a season (71) and sits fifth on the all-time Canucks leaderboard for assists with 348 in his career.
First Star Cam Ward backstopped the Hurricanes to fifth place in the Eastern Conference and within seven points of clinching a playoff berth by posting a 10-1-2 record, 1.98 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in 13 starts. Ward allowed two goals or fewer in nine games, beginning with a 39-save performance in a 5-2 victory at Washington March 3. He recorded his fifth shutout of the season by stopping all 28 shots in a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers March 9, made a month-high 41 saves in a 4-2 victory over New Jersey March 18 and blocked 37 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory at Florida March 23. Ward has started each of the Hurricanes' past 24 games, the longest such streak of his NHL career. He has posted a 16-6-2 record and two shutouts in that span.
Third Star Rick Nash tallied 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) and a +7 rating in 15 games to lead the Blue Jackets in goals and points in the month as the club posted a 9-4-2 record. He picked up points in 10 of 15 games, including his fourth career hat trick at Detroit on March 7. In that game, he became the first player since Montreal's Maurice Richard in 1948 to score three unassisted goals in a game. He also collected a career-high four assists in a 5-0 win over Calgary on March 26. Nash has tallied 36-38-74 in 73 games this season, leading the club in goals, assists and points, and setting career highs in assists and points.
