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Vanek named NHL’s first star of the week

Buffalo Sabres v Carolina Hurricanes

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 06: Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during play at the RBC Center on January 6, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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After scoring 10 points in four games and rocketing atop the league’s scoring leaderboard, Thomas Vanek was named the NHL’s first star of the week on Monday.

The 29-year-old Austrian was en fuego over the last seven days. He notched an assists in a 4-3 OT loss to Toronto, then followed that up with a three-goal, two-assists performance in a statement win over the Bruins.

That was followed by a one-goal effort in Montreal on Saturday and a three-point effort in Florida on Sunday.

Vanek now leads the NHL in scoring -- 19 points, three clear of second-place Steve Stamkos -- and, of note, has two of the three five-point games in the league thus far (the other was recorded by Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg.)

Second star went to Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz, thanks in large part to a pair of game-winning goals and the first four-goal game of his career in Sunday’s 6-3 win over Washington.

Kunitz now leads the Pens in goals (six) and is coming off a career-high 26 goals in 2011-12.

Third star of the week went to Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who has seemingly wrestled back the No. 1 gig from Cory Schneider.

Luongo went 2-0-1 while posting 0.95 GAA and .963 save percentage, helping the Canucks move to 4-2-2 on the season and atop the Northwest Division. Luongo’s hot streak also included a 24-save shutout over Colorado, the 61st shutout of his career, moving him to within one of Turk Broda for 15th all-time.