Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: A weekly gauge of the gamers who’re controlling substantial buzz across the league. When a participant is included on this listing it might not be a very good factor — it implies that they’re capturing a considerable amount of the hockey world’s consideration.
These gamers are in no specific order relating to the quantity of buzz that they are creating. We’ll revisit the Star Power Index each week all through the common season.
At 37, Alex Ovechkin is racking up milestone after milestone. On Tuesday, Ovechkin joined Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe because the solely gamers in NHL historical past to attain 800 objectives over the course of their careers.
Ovechkin achieved the feat in dramatic trend as he recorded a hat trick in a 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. His historic 800th profession objective got here on the 6:34 mark of the third interval when he deposited a juicy rebound previous Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek.
The Capitals star is now simply two objectives away from passing Howe for second place on the league’s all-time objectives listing. Once Ovechkin passes Howe, solely Gretzky will stand in Ovechkin’s means of turning into the NHL’s all-time main objective scorer. It’s actually a process that the Capitals legend is able to succeeding at.
Ovechkin has tallied 20 objectives in 31 video games all through the 2022-23 season to date. The Capitals star is at present on tempo to attain 53 objectives (0.65 goals-per-game) this season assuming he fits up for all 82 common season video games. Ovechkin is at present 94 objectives from tying Gretzky’s all-time objectives report of 894.
This is likely one of the most gifted objective scorers within the historical past of the game. As he continues to attain extra historic milestones, it is essential to keep in mind that hockey followers are being handled to greatness even within the later levels of Ovechkin’s profession.
Just 12 days after struggling a stroke, Kris Letang was again within the lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the weekend. Letang logged a team-high 22:14 of ice time within the Penguins’ 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The veteran defenseman missed simply 5 video games whereas he was out of the lineup.
“Mentally, I really feel good to be again, to be sincere,” Letang mentioned following Saturday’s recreation. “It’s at all times exhausting to be on the sidelines. I do know well being comes first… We’re taking on a regular basis we have to determine this factor out. Like [Vyas] mentioned, after I really feel able to go and follow like I did in the present day, he’ll give me the inexperienced gentle, if it is secure to do.”
The Penguins defenseman beforehand had a stroke through the 2013-2014 season and missed greater than two months of motion in that occasion. Letang additionally logged 27:35 of ice time and registered a shot-on-goal in a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday. If nobody knew any higher, it will actually be exhausting to inform that this was the identical participant that had a scary medical situation simply two weeks in the past.
Veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen has solely appeared in eight video games this season attributable to a lower-body harm. In Andersen’s absence, rookie Pyotr Kochetkov has actually thrived between the pipes.
Kochetkov, who chosen with the No. 36 choose within the 2019 NHL Draft by the Hurricanes, has compiled a 7-1-4 report to associate with a 2.02 goals-against-average (third within the NHL) and a .926 save share (tied for third within the NHL). The Russian product additionally has recorded back-to-back shutouts over his final two begins.
Kochetkov put collectively a 27-save efficiency in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
Kochetkov joined Detroit Red Wings goalie Ville Husso and Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck as the one three goaltenders within the NHL to report three shutouts this season.
Even although he had surrendered 4 objectives towards the Anaheim Ducks in his begin previous to the 2 shutouts, Kochetkov remains to be having a fully sensational month. He’s been victorious in 4 of his 5 begins whereas sustaining a formidable 1.60 goals-against-average and .940 save share.
Andersen, who’s coping with a lower-body harm, practiced for the primary time final week. It’s actually going to be attention-grabbing to see what Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour does in internet when Andersen is wholesome sufficient to play contemplating how effectively Kochetkov has performed in his absence.
Josh Morrissey is doing one thing particular for the Winnipeg Jets. He’s a defenseman main his group in factors.
Morrissey at present leads the Jets with 32 factors (5 objectives & 27 assists), which occurs to be forward of dynamic objective scorers like Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. In addition, the veteran blue-liner additionally ranks third within the NHL in factors behind solely Erik Karlsson (38) and Rasmus Dahlin (33), who’re having profession seasons to date.
Morrissey has actually been on hearth as of late, particularly on the offensive finish of the ice. His most spectacular displaying got here final Friday towards the Chicago Blackhawks when Morrissey tallied two factors in a 3-1 win.
Morrissey’s finest play got here within the opening interval of that individual contest:
The 2013 first spherical choose additionally earned the first help on a second interval power-play objective from Blake Wheeler.
Morrissey is already simply 5 factors away from tying his career-high in factors (37), which he set through the 2021-22 marketing campaign. As ought to come as no shock, he is been one of many true catalysts for a Jets group that’s having a sensational begin to the 2022-23 season. They are in second place within the Central Division with the third-most factors (37) within the Western Conference and has actually discovered themselves underneath new head coach Rick Bowness.
