Other events in Baltic States

 Latvian goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets) has been named the NHL'S Star of the Week last week, the league announced, reported LETA. 

Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor was named the Second Star, while Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was selected Third Star. 

Merzlikins, 25, went 2-1-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average, .971 save percentage and two shutouts in three games last week, stopping 68-of-70 shots faced. On February 4, he made 32 saves in a 1-0 overtime win against the Florida Panthers. On February 7, he turned aside 16 shots to record his second-straight shutout in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The following night, he had his franchise rookie record eight-game winning streak snapped with a 20-save performance in a 2-1 loss vs. the Colorado Avalanche. 

He is one of six goaltenders since 1929-30 to register five shutouts in a span of eight games. 

The Riga native improved to 12-7-4 with a 2.19 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and five shutouts in 25 outings this season. 

Among goaltenders with at least 15 games played, he leads the NHL in save percentage and shutouts and ranks fourth-T in goals-against average. Since taking over for injured All-Star Joonas Korpisalo, Merzlikins has gone 12-3-0 with a 1.55 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and five shutouts in 15 outings.