Coyotes’ Antti Raanta named as one of NHL’s three stars of the week
Feb 19, 2018, 10:58 AM
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) makes a save on a shot by Montreal Canadiens center Jonathan Drouin (92) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta was named the NHL’s second of three stars of the week for his performances during Arizona’s current four-game winning streak.
Raanta went 3-0-0 and stopped 123 of 126 shots (.976 save percentage) with a 0.90 goals against average in four appearances from Feb. 12-18. He capped the week with his first shutout in a Coyotes uniform, stopping all 40 shots Saturday in a 1-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
The week began for Arizona with a 6-1 win Monday over the Chicago Blackhawks in which Raanta stopped all but one of 38 shots. Raanta played 19:32 of ice time in a 2-1 victory over San Jose the next night in a victory that went on backup Scott Wedgewood’s record.
Raanta then stopped 34 of 36 shots Thursday in a 5-2 Coyotes win over the Montreal Canadiens.
The 28-year-old improved his record to 12-14-6 with a .924 save percentage, the latter of which is tied for the sixth-best mark in the NHL. Raanta’s 2.45 goals against average is 10th in the league.
New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier was the NHL’s first star of the week with four goals in four appearances to go with three assists.
The NHL honored Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele as the third star of the week after he recorded three goals and four assists over three victories.
