[News] Mark Giordano named NHL's first star of the week

[sureLoss]

FIRST STAR – MARK GIORDANO, D, CALGARY FLAMES

Giordano paced the NHL with 3-5—8 in four games to power the Western Conference-leading Flames (30-13-4, 64 points) to a perfect week and their fifth straight win overall. He collected one helper in a 4-3 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 7. Giordano then registered his fifth career three-assist outing (and third of the season) in a 5-3 victory against the Colorado Avalanche Jan. 9. He followed that up with one goal in a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers Jan. 11. Giordano capped the week by playing in his 800th NHL game, celebrating with 2-1—3 (his sixth career multi-goal performance) in a 7-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 13. The 35-year-old Toronto native ranks second among NHL defensemen with 9-38—47 through 45 contests this season. Giordano, who was +7 for the week, also tops all players with a +36 rating in 2018-19.



SECOND STAR – JORDAN BINNINGTON, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES

Binnington stopped 74 of the 76 shots he faced, compiling a 3-0-0 record with a 0.67 goals-against average, .974 save percentage and one shutout to guide the Blues (19-20-4, 42 points) to wins in three of their four games. Binnington made his first NHL start Jan. 7, earning a shutout with 25 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers. He became the 35th goaltender in League history to post a shutout in his first NHL start and the second to achieve the feat with St. Louis (also Rich Parent: Jan. 26, 1999 at SJS). Binnington then yielded only one goal in each of his next two outings, recording 28 stops in a 4-1 victory against the Montreal Canadiens Jan. 10 and 21 saves in a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars Jan. 12. The 25-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native – who made his League debut Jan. 14, 2016 – has appeared in six total NHL games, totaling a 3-0-0 record, 1.61 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.



THIRD STAR – JAKE GUENTZEL, LW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Guentzel shared the League lead with five goals in three games (5-1—6) to lift the Penguins (25-14-6, 56 points) to a pair of wins as well as their 10th victory in their past 12 contests dating to Dec. 19 (10-2-0). He picked up one assist in a 5-1 triumph over the Florida Panthers Jan. 8. Guentzel then posted his second career hat trick (and second of the season) in a 7-4 victory against the Anaheim Ducks Jan. 11. He finished the week with both of Pittsburgh’s goals in a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 12. The 24-year-old Omaha, Neb., native tops the Penguins with 23 goals in 45 outings this season (23-21—44), aided by 7-3—10 during an active six-game point streak.

[CroFlames]

And first in our hearts.

[Hemi-Cuda]

#NotAnAllStar

[Lil Pedro]

Not an all-star

[TheIronMaiden]

Mark Giordano is 94th all time in points as an NHL D man.
He is also 65th in goals for a Defenceman in the NHL.

Gio is now 14th all time in points as a Flame passing Jim Peplinski last night. He is now only 1 point from passing Joel Otto and taking over the 13th spot.


Its been a lot of fun following Gio this season. It will go down as one of the seasons that put him among some of the greatest who ever played his position. It will also solidifying him as one of the all time greatest Calgary Flames ( he is only 3 games from tying Fleury in games played).

[TBone290]

Go Gio!!!

[mrdonkey]

Not as good as Leon.

[Bunk]

I'm sure he prefers this to actually having to go to the all-star game.

[Bunk]

Not surprising Johnny was not a star this week again. He fell way off. Had *checks notes* 7 points in 4 games.

oh.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Not surprising Johnny was not a star this week again. He fell way off. Had *checks notes* 7 points in 4 games.

oh.

It's honestly come to the point where if he doesn't get at least 2 a game, I'm slightly disappointed.

[Classic_Sniper]

+36 is absolutely outrageous. He and Brodie are 1 and 2 right now. Gio essentially accounts for our entire goal differential right now. Basically, when he’s on the ice, the flames score goals and don’t give up any. That’s what his current +64 pace tells me.

[Mattman]

Get that bread Gio!!!! Slowly but surely he's building the most dominant case for the Norris in recent years.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

+36 is absolutely outrageous. He and Brodie are 1 and 2 right now. Gio essentially accounts for our entire goal differential right now. Basically, when he’s on the ice, the flames score goals and don’t give up any. That’s what his current +64 pace tells me.

Lindholm is (tied) third with +27 and Backlund round up the top 10 with +22

[keenan87]

Great work by Gio!

As much as I would have liked Giordano to make the all-star team, I think the jokes are getting a bit old.

Personally, I like watching the all star game but I find it amusing how many people "don't care to watch" but then whine when their teams favourite players dont make it in. As someone pointed out, he is 35 and probably prefers the break.

Oilers fans are laughing at how salty Flames fans have been. Lets not be petty or give the Oilers any reason to laugh this season.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

He probably does prefer the break, but you have to think that if anyone from the Pacific team is unable to make it (unless it's a goalie someone with only one representative; i.e. Pettersson is injured and may have to be replaced by Boeser), it'll be Gio who goes.

[neo45]

Rest > whatever stupid all star game format they came up with this year

[tvp2003]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1084867803067207680

[agulati]

^That is very interesting. I would have expected with Morgan Reilly's start, he might have had one.

[transplant99]

TSN clocked Gio's shot on that 2nd goal last night at 139 KM/HR.

Yikes.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by transplant99

TSN clocked Gio's shot on that 2nd goal last night at 139 KM/HR.

Yikes.

So 85 mph?

I mean, it's faster than what I can do as I only shoot muffins (pun somewhat intended), but it's not exactly a rocket either.