Ehlers leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK -- Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Oct. 15.

FIRST STAR - NIKOLAJ EHLERS, LW, WINNIPEG JETS

Ehlers led the NHL with five goals (5-2-7), including a pair of winners, to propel the Jets (3-2-0, 6 points) to three straight victories. He recorded 3-1-4, including a natural hat trick and the decisive goal, in a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Oct. 9. In doing so, Ehlers became the third player in Jets/Thrashers history to post a natural hat trick, joining Ilya Kovalchuk (Nov. 11, 2005 vs. TBL) and Marian Hossa (Jan. 15, 2008 at DET). Ehlers added one goal in a 4-2 triumph against the Vancouver Canucks Oct. 12 and collected 1-1-2, including the winning tally, in a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes Oct. 14. The 21-year-old Aalborg, Denmark, native has totaled 45-64-109 in 159 career NHL games, including a team-high 5-2-7 in five outings this season.

SECOND STAR - AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews recorded four goals (4-0-4), including two in overtime, to power the Maple Leafs (4-1-0, 8 points) to a pair of wins in three starts. He collected his second career overtime goal in a 4-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 9. Matthews also scored in a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils Oct. 11 before capping the week with two goals, including the overtime winner, in a 4-3 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens Oct. 14. The 20-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz., native and reigning Calder Memorial Trophy winner has registered 45-32-77 in 87 career NHL games, including a club-high 5-3-8 in five contests this season. His 45 career goals are tied for second in the League since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, behind only Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby (47).

THIRD STAR - NICKLAS BACKSTROM, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Backstrom paced the NHL with 3-6-9 in four games with the Capitals (3-2-1, 7 points). He posted 1-2-3, factoring on all three Washington goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Oct. 9. Backstrom added one assist in a 3 2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins Oct. 11 before recording 1-3-4, his 19th career four-point game, in a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils Oct. 13. He closed the week with one goal in an 8-2 loss to Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 14. The 29-year-old Gävle, Sweden, native has collected 191-548-739 in 740 career NHL games, including a League-high 3-8-11 in six outings this season. Backstrom's 548 career assists rank third in the NHL since his debut in 2007-08, while his 739 career points place fifth.

Ovechkin, Backstrom, Kuznetsov driving fast start by Capitals

Forward Alex Ovechkin and centers Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov continue to power the Washington Capitals' strong start this season.

Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, Backstrom scored a goal and had three assists, and Kuznetsov had two assists in the Capitals' 5-2 win at the New Jersey Devils on Friday, giving each player 10 points through the first five games of the season for Washington (3-1-1). Ovechkin has an NHL-leading nine goals and one assist, Backstrom has two goals and eight assists, and all 10 of Kuznetsov's points have been assists. They share the NHL lead in points.

The Capitals are the 10th team in NHL history to have three or more players with least 10 points through the first five games of a season. The last team to do so was the San Jose Sharks in 2012-13, when centersPatrick Marleau (nine goals, four assists) and Joe Thornton (three goals, 10 assists) each had 13 points and center Joe Pavelskihad 10 (two goals, eight assists).

Ovechkin continues to make history of his own. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's the fourth player in the NHL's expansion era (since 1967-68) to score nine goals through his team's first five games of a season, joining New York Islanders forward Mike Bossy (1984-85), Pittsburgh Penguins center Mario Lemieux (1988-89) and Marleau.

Ovechkin, a six-time winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer, had four goals through nine games last season and finished with 33, his lowest total in a full season since he had 32 in 2010-11.

Backstrom, Tavares, Hedman named our 'Three stars of the Night'

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog 'The Neutral Zone' has named Nicklas Backstrom, John Tavares, and Victor Hedman as their 'Theee Stars of the Night' for the National Hockey League games taking place on March 14, 2017.

FIRST STAR - NICKLAS BACKSTROM, F, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Backstrom reached the 50-assist mark for the fourth consecutive season and seventh time in his NHL career. He also assisted on three of four goals to help the League-leading Capitals snap a four-game slide (0-4-0).

SECOND STAR - JOHN TAVARES, F, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Tavares scored the ninth regular-season OT goal of his NHL career to extend his franchise record and propel the Islanders to victory.

THIRD STAR - VICTOR HEDMAN, F, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Hedman scored at 4:05 of overtime as the Lightning extended their win and point streaks to four and six games (5-0-1), respectively.

Nicklas Backstrom leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK -- Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom, Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand and Carolina Hurricanes left wing Brock McGinn have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Jan. 15.

FIRST STAR - NICKLAS BACKSTROM, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Backstrom led the League in assists and points with 3-7-10 in four contests as the Capitals won all four games to extend their overall winning streak to nine contests and propel Washington to the top of the NHL standings (29-9-5, 63 points). Backstrom registered multiple points in all four games starting with one goal and one assist in a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 9. On Jan. 11, he recorded one goal and three assists in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, followed by one goal and one assist in a 6-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 13. Backstrom finished the week by notching two assists in a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 15. In his 10th season, all with the Capitals, the 29-year-old Galve, Sweden native leads the Capitals and is tied for 10th in League scoring with 42 points (12-30-42 in 43 GP).

SECOND STAR - BRAD MARCHAND, LW, BOSTON BRUINS

Marchand finished the week second in League scoring with eight points (4-4-8 in 3 GP) as the Bruins won two of three starts to improve to 23-18-5 (51 points), second in the Atlantic Division. On Jan. 10, Marchand recorded two goals and one assist in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues. After being held pointless in a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Jan. 12, Marchand matched a career high with five points (2-3-5) while skating in his 500th career NHL game in a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 14. In his eighth season, all with the Bruins, the 28-year-old Halifax, N.S. native leads the Bruins with 43 points (17-26-43) in 46 games, tied for seventh in NHL scoring

THIRD STAR - BROCK MCGINN, LW, CAROLINA HURRICANES

McGinn finished the week tied for third in League scoring with seven points (4-3-7 in 3 GP) as the Hurricanes recorded three victories, improving their record to 21-15-7 (49 points). On Jan. 10, McGinn recorded one goal in a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He notched two goals, including the game winner, in a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 13 and closed the week by recording a career-high four points (1-3-4) in a 7-4 win over the New York Islanders Jan. 14. In his second season with Carolina, the 22-year-old Fergus, Ont. native has appeared in 27 games recording 12 points (5-7-12).

Carter, Ward and Backstrom named 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK - Los Angeles Kings center Jeff Carter, Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward and Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Nov. 20.

FIRST STAR - JEFF CARTER, C, LOS ANGELES KINGS

Carter paced the NHL with three game-winning tallies - and also tied for the League lead with four total goals (4-2-6) - in four outings to propel the Kings (10-9-1, 21 points) into a share of first place, in terms of points, in the Pacific Division. After being held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 15, Carter scored the decisive goal in three consecutive outings: a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Nov. 17 (1-1-2), a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 19 and a 3-2 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks Nov. 20 (2-1-3). In doing so, he became the first Kings player to record the winning goal in three straight team games since Dec. 2-9, 2010 (Anze Kopitar). The 31-year-old London, Ont., native - who eclipsed 600 career points Sunday (316-285-601 in 815 GP) - leads the NHL with five game-winning goals and ranks first on Los Angeles with 9-8-17 in 20 contests this season.

SECOND STAR - CAM WARD, G, CAROLINA HURRICANES

Ward went 3-0-0 with a 1.01 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout to help the Hurricanes (7-6-4, 18 points) complete a perfect week and extend his, as well as the team's, overall winning streak to four games. Ward stopped all 22 shots he faced to pick up his 24th career shutout - and first of the season - in a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks Nov. 15. He then made 31 saves in a 3-2 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens Nov. 18 and 28 saves in a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets Nov. 20. The 32-year-old Saskatoon, Sask., native owns a 6-4-3 record with a 2.36 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in 13 appearances this season. Ward's four-game winning streak is his longest since Feb. 16-28, 2015 (also 4-0-0).

THIRD STAR - NICKLAS BACKSTROM, C, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Backstrom led the NHL with 4-4-8 in four games to power the Capitals (11-5-2, 24 points) to five out of a possible eight standings points. He scored the club's lone goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Nov. 15 before matching a career high with 2-3-5, including the decisive tally, in a 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Nov. 16. Backstrom then was held off the scoresheet in a 1-0 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings Nov. 18, but closed the week with 1-1-2 in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles with 9-8-17 in 20 contests this season.