Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty named NHL's first star of the week

Montreal Canadiens' Max Pacioretty celebrates his second goal of the game during third period NHL action against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto on Wednesday February 27, 2013. Montreal forward Pacioretty, Boston centre Patrice Bergeron and Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom are the NHL's three stars of the week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO - Montreal forward Max Pacioretty, Boston centre Patrice Bergeron and Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom are the NHL's three stars of the week.

Pacioretty had four goals and three assists in four games last week. He began the week with one assist in a 2-1 shootout loss at Ottawa last Monday and scored two goals in a 5-2 victory over Toronto on Wednesday.

Pacioretty then posted one goal and one assist both a 7-6 overtime loss to Pittsburgh and a 4-3 win over Boston.

The 24-year-old leads Montreal with eight goals and 12 assists in 18 games this season.

Bergeron had two goals and five assists in four appearances last week.

He recorded two assists in a 4-1 win at the New York Islanders on Tuesday and scored the overtime winner in a 2-1 against the Ottawa on Thursday.

Bergeron closed the week with one assist in a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday and a goal and two assists in the loss to Montreal on Sunday.

Bergeron has 18 points in 19 games for the Bruins this season.

Backstrom went 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in three appearances last week.

He made 20 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory against Calgary on Tuesday and another 25 stops in a 4-3 win at Phoenix on Thursday.

Backstrom then made 19 saves in a 4-2 victory over Edmonton on Sunday.

With the win, he improved to 17-0-0 in 17 career home games against the Oilers, the second-longest home winning streak against one team by any goaltender in NHL history.