Brent Burns named NHL’s Third Star of the week

Brent Burns’ wonderful season just got a little better. The NHL named the defender the Third Star of the week, buoyed by his six points in four games as San Jose went 3-1 over that time period. Being better than a point a game player over four games isn’t too shabby at all.

Burns keeps scoring — his .91 points per game mark exactly matches his points per game from last season. Most of the Sharks struggled to score to start the season, but not Burns. The Wookiee sits with eight goals and 12 assists in 22 games; just shy of reaching the point per game mark.

You can read the release from the NHL below:

THIRD STAR - BRENT BURNS, D, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Burns ranked first among defensemen with 2-4-6 in four outings as the Sharks (12-9-1, 25 points) won three of their four games to maintain second place in the Pacific Division. He posted 1-1-2 in a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 21. Fresh off signing an eight-year contract extension, Burns then collected multiple points in each of his next two appearances - two assists in a 2-1 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks Nov. 23 and 1-1-2 in a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders Nov. 25 - before being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks Nov. 26. The 31-year-old Barrie, Ont., native leads NHL defensemen and paces the Sharks with 8-12-20 in 22 games this season.