After matching the highest single-game point total in five years, Senators' right wing Daniel Alfredsson was named the NHL's "First Star of the Week" on Monday, as reported on Yahoo.com. Also honored were Capitals' left wing Alex Ovechkin and Blue Jackets' goaltender Pascal Leclaire.

Eric Staal scored twice and helped set up Marc Savard's game-winner with 20.9 seconds remaining in the third period Sunday night as the Eastern Conference edged the Western Conference 8-7 in the 56th NHL All-Star Game, as reported by the Associated Press. Rick Nash had a hat trick for the Western Conference, but Staal edged him for the all-star MVP honors, bringing home a brand-new Dodge Journey as a result.

As reported by the Associated Press, the Rangers retired Brian Leetch's famous number 2. They raised a banner next to those of Mark Messier and Mike Richter, the stellar defenseman's teammates on the 1994 Stanley Cup championship team that ended 54 years of waiting.

The New York Rangers announced today that the organization will retire jersey No. 9 in honor of Rangers' great Adam Graves in an on-ice ceremony during the 2008-09 season. The announcement was made by long-time teammate and friend Brian Leetch during a pre-game ceremony when Leetch?s No. 2 was raised to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. This will be the last number retired from the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship team. "Adam Graves is quite simply one of the most beloved players to ever don a New York Rangers' sweater," stated Sather. "Off the ice, there is quite simply no finer person. His effort and production as a hockey player was nothing short of triumphant and, even today, his dedication to the community is incomparable. We are proud to have Adam join his fellow 1994 Stanley Cup Champion teammates Mike Richter, Mark Messier, and Brian Leetch, as well as legends Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin, as his number is raised to the rafters of Madison Square Garden." Graves, who retired from professional hockey following the 2002-03 season after a memorable 17-year career, now serves in the Rangers' Hockey and Business Operations departments. Graves set the franchise record for most goals in a season with his 52-goal campaign in 1993-94 (since broken by Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06) and ranks third in career goals (280) and 10th in points (507). Graves has also won several Rangers? awards in recognition of his contribution to the community, including the Steven McDonald Award (1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, and 2000), the Rangers Fan Club Ceil Saidel Memorial Award (1996, 1997 and 2000), and the Crumb Bum Award (1993). Graves appeared in 1,152 career games with the Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and San Jose Sharks, registering 329 goals and 287 assists for 616 points, along with 1,224 penalty minutes. Graves was selected to participate in the 1994 NHL All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden and was honored with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (1994), the NHL Foundation Award (2000), and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (2001). Graves is also a two-time, Stanley Cup Champion in 1989-90 with Edmonton and in 1993-94 with the Rangers. He was an integral part of the Rangers? magical run to the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship, registering 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in 23 matches. The Toronto, Ontario native has represented Canada in several international tournaments, including the gold-medal winning Canadian Junior team at the World Junior Championships in 1988 and later served as Captain of Team Canada at the 1993 World Championships in Munich, Germany. The two-time Rangers? MVP (1993 and 1994) will join Rod Gilbert (7), Eddie Giacomin (1), Mike Richter (35), Mark Messier (11), and Brian Leetch (2) as the only Rangers' players to have their jersey numbers retired. Gilbert?s No. 7 was first to ascend to The Garden rafters on October 14, 1979; Giacomin?s No. 1 on March 15, 1989; Richter?s No. 35 on February 4, 2004; Messier?s No. 11 on January 12, 2006; and most recently Leetch?s No. 2 earlier this evening.

The Rangers will retire the jersey of Brian Leetch on Thursday before their game against the Thrashers, according to the Associated Press. Leetch's No. 2 will join the ranks of Mark Messier's No. 11 and Mike Richter's No. 35.

According to the Associated Press, Pittsburgh Penguins' rookie Tyler Kennedy is out indefinitely with mono and will be forced to miss Saturday's NHL YoungStars competition in Atlanta. Kennedy is the second Pittsburgh player forced to miss All-Star weekend. Sidney Crosby, the leading vote-getter in the All-Star balloting, won't play because of a high ankle sprain.

Evgeni Malkin will cover for teammate Sidney Crosby in the NHL All-Star Game, as he was one of five replacement players named on Tuesday. Malkin leads the Penguins in goals (26) and points (56). Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, replacing starter Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, joins Malkin on the East squad. Defenseman Scott Niedermayer and forward Corey Perry from the Anaheim Ducks were added to the West roster.

Anaheim Ducks' center Ryan Getzlaf, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Johan Holmqvis,t and Philadelphia Flyers' left wing Scott Hartnell have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending January 20.

Jacques Martin became the 10th NHL coach with 500 wins after Radek Dvorak and David Booth scored early in the third period to lift the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Backup goalie Craig Anderson made 31 saves, and the Panthers ended a three-game losing streak. "I've been very fortunate to work in this league, the best league in the world, and to have some good players to coach," said Martin, who is also Florida's general manager.

Jarome Iginla and Vincent Lecavalier now have something else in common besides a stirring fight in the Stanley Cup finals, as they were chosen Thursday to be captains at the NHL All-Star Game. Iginla, the Calgary Flames captain, and Tampa Bay's Lecavalier will wear the "C" on their sweaters Jan. 27 in Atlanta. Iginla is a Western Conference All-Star for the fourth time, and Lecavalier is set to make his third appearance for the East squad. Their defining moment together came during Game 3 of the 2004 Stanley Cup finals when the scoring stars dropped their gloves and squared off. Lecavalier was the aggressor in that bout, but Iginla and the Flames earned the win that night to take a 2-1 series lead.