Tavares leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK -- New York Islanders centerJohn Tavares, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Oscar Dansk and Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Oct. 29.

FIRST STAR - JOHN TAVARES, C, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Tavares led the NHL with 6-1-7, including a pair of hat tricks, to power the Islanders (6-4-1, 13 points) to two wins in three starts. He posted 3-1-4, including the decisive goal and his 10th career four-point performance, in a 5-3 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes Oct. 24. After being held off the scoresheet in a 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild Oct. 26, Tavares added his eighth career hat trick in a 6-2 victory against the Nashville Predators Oct. 28. In doing so, he became the third player in Islanders history to record two hat tricks within a span of three team games - and the first to accomplish the feat since March 3-5, 1996 (Ziggy Palffy). The 27-year-old Mississauga, Ont., native ranks third in the NHL with nine goals in 11 outings this season, pacing the Islanders with 13 points overall.

SECOND STAR - OSCAR DANSK, G, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Dansk went 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .968 save percentage and one shutout to lead the Golden Knights (8-1-0, 16 points) to a perfect week, continuing the best start by an expansion team in NHL history. He made 29 saves in a 4-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 24. Dansk then stopped all 32 shots he faced to earn the first shutout in Golden Knights history in a 7-0 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche Oct. 27. The 23-year-old Stockholm, Sweden, native - who made his NHL debut Oct. 21 - is 3-0-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average, .959 save percentage and one shutout through his first three career appearances.

THIRD STAR - JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU, C, OTTAWA SENATORS

Pageau collected 1-5-6 as the Senators (5-1-5, 15 points) went 1-0-2 to extend their point streak to five games (2-0-3). He registered one assist in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings Oct. 24, followed by 1-2-3 (his fifth career three-point outing) in a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 26. Pageau capped the week with two more helpers in a 5-4 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils Oct. 27. The 24-year-old Ottawa native ranks fifth on the Senators with 1-7-8 in 11 contests this season.

Tavares, Lindholm, Matthews named our 'Three Stars of the Night

NEW YORK – UNB! Network NHL/hockey blog 'The Neutral Zone' has named John Tavares, Hampus Lindholm, and Auston Matthews as their 'Theee Stars of the Night' for the National Hockey League games taking place on March 22, 2017.

FIRST STAR - JOHN TAVARES, F, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Tavares earned a point for the 8th time in 9 games as the Islanders (34-26-12, 80 points) moved within 2 points of a Wild Card spot.

SECOND STAR - HAMPUS LINDHOLM, F, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Lindholm (1-2—3) earned a career-high three points as the Ducks improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight contests.

THIRD STAR - AUSTON MATTHEWS, F, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews scored his 33rd goal of the season to move within one of Wendel Clark for most by a rookie in Maple Leafs franchise history.

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.

John Tavares' All-Star Media Day Comments

"The Neutral Zone" Staff Report

John Tavares

New York Islanders captain John Tavares, who will captain the Metropolitan Division in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game, spoke to the press at the game's media day on Friday.

Tavares was named captain on Thursday when it was released the Metro division's original captain, Alex Ovechkin, would not play in the game.

Tavares mentioned that the schedule usually "picks up" after the All-Star Game.

When asked about the other New York representative (from the Rangers) Ryan McDonagh, Tavares gave some brief comments.

"I've certainly talked to him a few times," Tavares said. "I have a lot of respect for him, we play against each other so much. He does so much for his team. Such a great all-around player, and such a great skater. Those guys are never easy to play against."