While Wayne Simmonds was named the MVP of Sunday’s All-Star Game, it turns out that the NHL decided that the Flyers’ winger should be recognized even further for his outstanding week. (Which, hey, I get it. I enjoy talking about Wayne Simmonds a lot, too.)
Wayne Simmonds (@NHLFlyers), Patrick Marleau (@SanJoseSharks), Frederik Andersen (@MapleLeafs) named 3 Stars of Week https://t.co/1KNRI3Adho
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 30, 2017
Simmonds’ being named All Star MVP, following a three-goal performance at the place where he began his career, obviously plays a big role in his being named First Star of the Week. But his performances in the Flyers’ other two games last week — he scored goals in winning efforts both against the Rangers on Wednesday and the Maple Leafs on Thursday — were what helped put him over the top here.
This is the third time this season a Flyers player has been named first star of the week; Steve Mason and Jakub Voracek received that recognition on back-to-back weeks during the Flyers’ win streak in December. Hopefully there will be many more of these coming in the home stretch of the season.
Two other guys who are not Wayne Simmonds (apparently, their names are Patrick Marleau and Frederik Andersen) were named Second and Third Stars of the week.
Full text of the NHL’s recognition of Simmonds is below:
FIRST STAR – WAYNE SIMMONDS, RW, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Simmonds earned MVP honors at Sunday’s 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game and also registered two goals in two contests earlier in the week with the Flyers (25-19-6, 56 points). Making his All-Star Game debut in the city where he played his first three NHL seasons, Simmonds scored twice in the Metropolitan Division’s 10-6 semifinal win over the Atlantic Division before potting the tournament-clinching goal in a 4-3 triumph against the Pacific Division in the final. Earlier in the week, Simmonds notched the winning goal in a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers Jan. 25 and again found the back of the net in a 2-1 triumph against the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 26. The 28-year-old Scarborough, Ont., native paces the Flyers and shares ninth place in the NHL with 21 goals in 50 games this season (21-17-38).
The Flyers are back on the ice on Tuesday night as they head to Raleigh to face the Hurricanes.
