Hertl, Varlamov/Giguere, Crosby named 'Three Stars'

San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl, the duo of Colorado Avalanche goaltenders Semyon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby were named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week.

Hertl led the league with five goals in three games to help the Sharks (5-0-0) remain undefeated. He scored four of those goals in a 9-2 victory over the New York Rangers Tuesday. Hertl, the 17th overall pick by San Jose in the 2012 draft, leads all rookies and is tied for second in the NHL with eight points through five games this season.

Varlamov and Giguere combined for three wins as the Avalanche improved to 5-0-0, matching the franchise's best start to a season since the Quebec Nordiques won their opening five games in 1994-95.

Varlamov posted two victories, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday (27 saves) and Saturday (40 saves).

Giguere had 39 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins Thursday.

Crosby led the NHL with seven points (three goals and four assists) in three games as the Penguins won two out of three. He had two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday and another one in a 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers Friday. Crosby had his eighth career hat trick -- and first in the regular season since December 2010 -- and assisted the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation in a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday.