BOSTON - The National Hockey League announced today, December 24, that Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has been named the NHL first star of the week for the week ending December 24.

Rask, who was selected to the 2017 NHL All-Star Game, finished the week tied for first in the league with three wins, recording a 1.30 goals against average and .954 save percentage as the Bruins won all four of their games to improve to 19-10-5 (43 points), third in the Atlantic Division. On December 18, Rask stopped 16 of 18 shots to help lead the Bruins to a 7-2 home win over Columbus. On December 21, the 6-foot-3, 176-pound netminder stopped 37 of 38 shots, as well as three of four shootout attempts, to help the Bruins earn a 2-1 shootout win over Winnipeg. On December 23, Rask stopped 30 of 31 Detroit shots to lead Boston to a 3-1 win over the Red Wings before the team's holiday break.

In his ninth NHL season, all with the Bruins, the 30-year-old Savonlinna, Finland native has compiled a 11-8-3 record with a 2.28 goals against average and .918 save percentage. Since December 1, Rask is tied for the league lead with seven wins, and paces all NHL goaltenders with a 1.39 goals against average and .950 save percentage (minimum five starts).