This weekend, millions of people will flock to the cinema to see director Steven Spielberg's take on our 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln.

Though the Blackhawks Blog can neither confirm nor deny "Honest Abe's" affection for the sport of hockey (the first organized indoor hockey game wouldn't be played until roughly a decade after his death), the Blackhawks paid tribute to Lincoln during their summer with the Stanley Cup in 2010. The Cup visited a number of historic sites in Illinois, many of which tied in directly with "The Great Emancipator."

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Each week, the Blackhawks Blog takes you around the AHL, ECHL, NCAA and junior hockey ranks to award three Hawks prospects the chicagoblackhawks.com Three Stars of the Week.

1st Star: G Mac Carruth / Portland (WHL)
The Line: 4 Games Played, 4 Wins, 0 Losses, 3 Goals Allowed

The Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks are off to a torrid start in 2012-13, with a 16-3-1 overall record and rolling with a 12-game winning streak. One of the biggest keys to that amazing run has been the play of 2010 Blackhawks draft pick Mac Carruth, who is a perfect 9-0-0 so far and has surrendered less than a goal per game on average. In four appearances this week, Carruth gave up one goal in each of his three starts – including a 43-save effort on Saturday against Spokane – and came on in relief of fellow Portland netminder Brendan Burke, securing the win as the Winterhawks tallied the final four goals in a 9-5 win at Vancouver. Carruth currently leads the WHL in save percentage (.967) and goals-against average (0.97).

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The similarities are notable.

2012 Blackhawks draft pick Garret Ross, like Andrew Shaw the year before him, is a 20-year-old OHL forward who was drafted by Chicago in the fifth round in his final year of draft eligibility. Both are known as heart-and-soul players, and neither are bashful about dropping the gloves when the situation arises.

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Before the Blackhawks take the podium to announce the 18th overall selection of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks Blog takes you through the history of the team's greatest draft picks, and how they spent their time in the Blackhawks sweater.

C Troy Murray - Selected 57th overall in the 1980 Entry Draft

Another great value from the 1980 Blackhawks draft class - the same one that brought Denis Savard, Steve Larmer, Steve Ludzik and Jerome Dupont to Chicago, as well - the 57th overall selection became shutdown centerman Troy Murray.

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Before the Blackhawks take the podium to announce the 18th overall selection of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks Blog takes you through the history of the team's greatest draft picks, and how they spent their time in the Blackhawks sweater.

LW Darcy Rota - Selected 13th overall in the 1973 Entry Draft

One of the top snipers of his draft class, Darcy Rota finished his final junior hockey season with 73 goals in 68 games for the WCJHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, and was selected by the Blackhawks with the 13th overall pick in the 1973 Entry Draft.

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Before the Blackhawks take the podium to announce the 18th overall selection of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks Blog takes you through the history of the team's greatest draft picks, and how they spent their time in the Blackhawks sweater.

LW Eric Daze - Selected 90th overall in the 1993 Entry Draft.

Immensely talented and highly productive, despite playing through back injuries, many would say that Eric Daze's Blackhawks career ended too soon. It's difficult not to agree, especially with the impressive way Daze began his NHL career after being drafted by the Blackhawks in 1993.

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Denis Savard, in a Montreal Juniors sweater.

Before the Blackhawks take the podium to announce the 18th overall selection of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks Blog takes you through the history of the team's greatest draft picks, and how they spent their time in the Blackhawks sweater.

C Denis Savard - Selected 3rd overall in the 1980 Entry Draft.

When the Montreal Canadiens - perhaps surprisingly - passed on Montreal Juniors standout Denis Savard in favor of center Doug Wickenheiser, the Blackhawks were happy to select him with the third overall pick.

It is unlikely that anyone around the team ever regretted the selection.

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Rewarded for his best amateur season to date, Blackhawks prospect and Saginaw Spirit left wing Brandon Saad was named an Ontario Hockey League First-Team All-Star on Wednesday, the league announced.

The year-end recognition, determined by a vote of OHL general managers, is the first for Saad, who joins the ranks of top-end NHL prospects including Dougie Hamilton and Tyler Toffoli on the first team. Nail Yakupov,  a potential first-overall selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, made the OHL's third team at right wing.

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With the Coyotes’ Pacific Division-clinching win against Minnesota Saturday night, the Blackhawks will officially face off with Phoenix in the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinal. The series, which will begin either Wednesday or Thursday, will start in Glendale, Ariz., for the first two games, then return to the United Center for the following two.

The Blackhawks were 1-2-1 against Phoenix in the 2011-12 season, as Jonathan Toews (3G, A) and Patrick Sharp (G, 3A) led all Chicago scorers.

Andrew Brunette leads all Blackhawks with 14 goals and 42 points in 46 career games against Phoenix. Toews has tallied 17 points (9G, 8A) in 16 games and Patrick Kane has notched 16 points (3G, 13A) in 18 contests. Goaltender Corey Crawford is 3-1-1 with a 2.85 goals-against average in six career appearances against the Coyotes.