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This week’s three stars: Rick Nash, John-Michael Liles and Brian Rafalski

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James O’Brien

The NHL named its three stars for the week ending on November 21, with Rick Nash, John-Michael Liles and Brian Rafalski earning all of those spots for the Western Conference. Let’s take a look at the weeks enjoyed by each player.

1. Rick Nash

If you can credit one player for the Blue Jackets’ surprising three game sweep through a California road trip, it would be Nash. He began the week scoring two goals against the Los Angeles Kings, scored another against the Anaheim Ducks before the highlight of that run: a hat trick as he accounted for every goal in the team’s 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks.

Maybe this shouldn’t come as a surprise from a player with more career goals (239) than assists (199), but the most amusing part is that he has a 3:1 ratio in goals and assists this season (12 goals and 4 assists for 16 points in 17 games). His first star of the week performance is even more stark of a contrast, with six goals (including two game winners) and zero assists.

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James O’Brien

2. John-Michael Liles

There are quite a few defenseman off to hot offensive starts so far this season. Some aren’t very surprising (Nicklas Lidstrom) while some are slightly unexpected (Kris Letang and Dustin Byfuglien). Liles is one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises so far this season, as he is tied with Lidstrom for the league lead in points among defenseman.

Check out a recent post about why his hot streak should get more attention. The league provided some interesting facts about his great week in a press release.

Liles tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) and a +5 rating last week, helping the Avalanche (12-7-1) post four consecutive victories and take the Northwest Division lead. Liles tallied two goals and one assist in a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues Nov. 15, his first multi-goal game since Oct. 18, 2006 at Toronto. He notched two assists in a 4-3 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks Nov. 17 and closed the week with two more assists in a 4-3 shootout win over the Dallas Stars on Nov. 20.

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James O’Brien

3. Brian Rafalski

While Nash seems all about scoring goals, Rafalski has been a regular source of helpers so far this season.

He hasn’t added a tally yet in 2010-11, but the gifted offensive blueliner has 10 assists in a knee surgery shortened eight game campaign so far.

Most of those points came in a week that earned Rafalski third star of the week honors. Here are the tidbits from his seven assist run of five games, via that press release from the league.

Rafalski began the week by matching a career high with three assists in a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 17. He recorded one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild Nov. 19 and collected three more, including the 400th of his NHL career, in a 5-4 overtime win over the Calgary Flames Nov. 21.