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Home , Adam Fox (ice hockey), Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 29, 2021

RANGERS’ ADAM FOX, FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE HERO DEENA TRUPKIN NAMED NHL ‘FIRST STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Hurricanes’ Necas, Predators’ Saros Round Out ‘Three Stars’

NEW YORK (March 29, 2021) – defenseman Adam Fox and Northwell Health – Long Island Jewish Medical Center RN Deena Trupkin have been named the NHL’s “First Stars” for the week ending March 28.

Throughout the 2020-21 season the NHL is celebrating the remarkable efforts of the off- ice stars who make it possible for us to play our games amid a pandemic by honoring frontline healthcare heroes from the regions represented by the League’s weekly and monthly “Stars.”

Trupkin, a Rangers fan since birth, is a registered nurse in maternal fetal medicine at Northwell Health – Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. At the height of the pandemic, she was reassigned to work in labor and delivery. Her role became even more essential to many laboring women who could not have the in-person support of their partner or family due to the unknown threat of COVID-19 on newborns.

Trupkin’s fandom of the Rangers spans generations. Her grandfather had season tickets for more than 60 years and her daughter’s middle name is Madison, after Madison Square Garden. Trupkin is very proud to share this weekly honor with Fox, who hails from Long Island (Jericho, N.Y.).

Rounding out the “Three Stars” of the week are center Martin Necas and . More on each NHL player’s performance can be found below:

FIRST STAR – ADAM FOX, D, NEW YORK RANGERS

Fox collected a League-leading 10 assists and 11 points in four games (1-10—11) to propel the Rangers (15-15-4, 34 points) to a 2-2-0 week. He recorded 1-2—3, his second career three-point outing (also Jan. 2, 2020 at CGY: 0-3—3), in a 5-3 victory over the March 22. Fox then notched a career-high five assists, the eighth such performance in Rangers history and first since since Feb. 15, 1999 (Wayne Gretzky: 0-5—5 at NSH), in a 8-3 triumph against the March 25. Fox added three more helpers over his next two contests, assisting on New York’s lone in a 2-1 loss to the Flyers March 27 and picking up two helpers in a 5-4 defeat against March 28. The 23-year-old Jericho, N.Y., native – who finished fourth in voting in 2019-20 (8-34—42 in 70 GP) – ranks third among defensemen with 3-26—29 through 33 appearances this season, highlighted by an active seven-game point streak dating to March 17 (1-13—14). Fox, who topped the NHL with seven power-play assists/points last week, also places among the overall leaders in both power-play assists (4th; 15) and power-play points (7th; 17) in 2020-21.

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SECOND STAR – MARTIN NECAS, C, CAROLINA HURRICANES

Necas posted 4-3—7 in three games to lift the Hurricanes (23-7-3, 49 points) to a perfect week and into second place in the Discover NHL Central Division. He registered 2-1—3 over a pair of matchups against the , scoring once in a 3-0 win March 22 and adding 1-1—2 – including the lone assist on ’s goal – in a 4-3 triumph March 25. Necas capped the week by factoring on all four of Carolina’s goals (2-2—4), including scoring the winner with 3:53 remaining in regulation, in a 4-3 victory over the March 27. It stood as Necas’ second career four-point performance, matching his career high set Dec. 23, 2019 (2-2—4 at TOR). The 22-year-old Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, native – who collected 16-20—36 during his first full NHL campaign in 2019-20 (64 GP) – ranks second on the Hurricanes with 9-19—28 through 30 outings this season.

THIRD STAR – JUUSE SAROS, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Saros stopped 80 of the 82 shots he faced, compiling a 3-0-0 record, 0.67 goals-against average, .976 percentage and one to help the Predators (18-17-1, 37 points) win all four of their games. He earned his 12th career shutout with 31 saves in a 2-0 triumph over the March 23. Saros then yielded one goal in each of his next two appearances, making 20 stops in a 7-1 victory against the Red Wings March 25 and denying 29 shots in a 3-1 win over the March 27. The 25-year-old Forssa, , native has played in 18 total contests this season, posting a 9-6-0 record, 2.38 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and one shutout.

### (3/29/21)