New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash was named the NHL's first star for the week ending January 4 after leading all scorers with nine points.

Defenseman Brian Rafalski of the Detroit Red Wings was named the week's second star, while Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward was honored as the third star.

Nash notched two goals and seven assists last week to help Columbus win three of its four road games. That includes a season-high four points off a goal and three assists in a victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. Nash finished that contest a plus-four and leads the Blue Jackets with 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games this season.

Rafalski posted six points off a goal and five helpers, with five of those points coming in a home-and-home sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks for the first-place Red Wings. He had two assists in a home win over Chicago last Tuesday and followed that up two days later with a goal and two helpers in the Red Wings' 6-4 victory in the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. Rafalski is third among NHL defenseman in scoring with 31 points (5g, 26a) in 38 games this season.

Ward earned his honor by posting a 3-0-0 mark last week with a 1.33 goals against average and .944 save percentage. He made 20 saves in beating Atlanta on New Year's Eve, then halted 30-of-31 shots faced in a victory over St. Louis on Friday. The following night, he made 17 stops in beating Tampa Bay to improve to 15-9-3 this year with a 2.45 GAA and .914 save percentage.