March 15, 2010

Stempniak Named NHL's Second Star of Week

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes forward Lee Stempniak has been named the NHL’s Second Star for the week ending Mar. 14. Vancouver Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson was named the first star while Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was named the third star.

Stempniak scored five goals in three games last week, all victories, helping the Coyotes (42-22-5) continue their roll toward the best regular season in franchise history. Stempniak began the week by notching two goals plus a shootout tally in a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 10. He recorded two goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Mar. 13 and scored once in a 3-2 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Mar. 14. Since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Mar. 3 trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Matt Jones, a fourth round choice and a seventh round choice in the 2010 Entry Draft, Stempniak has six goals and one assist in five games with the Coyotes, helping the team to a five-game winning streak. Stempniak has also recorded at least one point in each of his five games with the Coyotes, who have won 13 of their past 17 games.

With a 42-22-5 record this season, the Coyotes are just one victory shy of tying the franchise record for wins in a season, set by the Winnipeg Jets in 1984-85 (43-27-10). They have also surpassed the team record for most wins in a season since moving to Phoenix in 1996 (40-27-9-6 in 2001-02).