NEW YORK – Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 12.
FIRST STAR – CLAYTON KELLER, RW, ARIZONA COYOTES
Keller led the NHL with 4-5—9 in four contests to power the Coyotes (24-32-11, 59 points) to a 3‑0-1 week, helping the team to points in 13 of their 17 games since the All-Star break (8-4-5). He registered 1-2—3, his sixth three-point performance of the season, in a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues March 7. Keller then collected two assists, including the primary helper on Barrett Hayton’s decisive goal, in a 4-1 win versus the Nashville Predators March 9. He scored one of Arizona’s two goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche March 11 before capping the week with 2-1—3, highlighted by his sixth career overtime goal, in a 5-4 triumph against the Minnesota Wild March 12. The 24-year-old Keller, who has points in five straight games dating to March 5 (4-6—10), paces the Coyotes in goals (29), assists (40) and points (69) through 67 overall appearances this season. His goal and point totals already are career highs, while his 40 assists are two shy of his personal best set during his rookie campaign of 2017-18 (42 A in 82 GP).
SECOND STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Crosby recorded 2-5—7, including a pair of game-winning goals, in four outings to lift the Penguins (34-22-10, 78 points) back into the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference via a 3-0-1 week. He posted 1-2—3, including his 20th career overtime goal (second in NHL history), as Pittsburgh rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 5-4 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets March 7. Crosby then picked up one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders March 9 before scoring his eighth game-winning goal of the season (and eighth of his career vs. PHI) in a 5-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers March 11. He finished the week with two helpers to reach the 50-assist and 80-point milestones for the 10th and 12th times in his career, respectively, in a 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Rangers March 12. The 35-year-old Crosby, who also leads his team in goals, assists and points this season, ranks 12th in the NHL with 29-51—80 through 66 total games in 2022-23.
THIRD STAR – MITCHELL MARNER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Marner compiled 2-4—6 in two contests to propel the Maple Leafs (40-17-8, 88 points) to a pair of victories. He notched 1-1—2, including an assist on Auston Matthews’ tiebreaking goal with 2:53 remaining in regulation, in a 4-3 win against the New Jersey Devils March 7. Marner then posted 1-3—4, his 13th career four-point performance and second of the season (also Feb. 21 at BUF: 0-5—5), in a 7-4 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers March 11. The 25-year-old Marner – who leads Toronto in assists and points – has skated in 65 total games this season, placing among the League leaders in takeaways (1st; 88), assists (4th; 59), power-play assists (t-5th; 25), power-play points (5th; 32), shorthanded goals (t-7th; 3) and points (9th; 83).
