NEW YORK - Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec is the first star of the opening week of the NHL season.

Plekanec had four goals and an assist last week as the Canadiens started the season with three straight road wins.

He began the season with two goals, including the game-winner with 42.9 seconds remaining in regulation, in a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Plekanec scored Montreal's lone regulation goal in a 2-1 shootout win over Washington on Thursday and closed the week with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout victory over Philadelphia on Saturday.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper was named second star and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby earned the league's third star.

Kuemper stopped all 46 shots he faced in helping the Wild become the fifth team since 1943-44 to begin a season with consecutive shutouts.