Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of February 23rd through March 1st.
First Star – Matthew Schaefer (D – NYI)
- Schaefer, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft, registered a League-high four goals in three contests (4-1—5) to help the Islanders (35-21-5, 75 points) become the 10th team in NHL history to record at least three straight multi-goal comeback wins. Trailing 2-0 late in the second period, Schaefer scored twice in 55 seconds – his 17th and 18th tallies of the season – to surpass Phil Housley for the most goals in League history by an 18-year-old defenseman en route to New York earning a 4-3 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 26. Schaefer did not find the scoresheet but logged a team-high 25:31 as the Islanders again rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 4-3 overtime win – this time versus the Columbus Blue Jackets Feb. 28. He ended the week with 2-1—3, his first career three-point performance, in a 5-4 triumph over the Florida Panthers March 1 to mark the first instance in NHL history of a defenseman being the first rookie to reach 20 goals in a given season. Only three other rookie blueliners have compiled as many goals in an entire campaign: Brian Leetch (23 in 1988-89 w/ NYR), Barry Beck (22 in 1977-78 w/ CLR) and Dion Phaneuf (20 in 2005-06 w/ CGY). In addition to leading the field in goals, Schaefer also ranks among the top rookie skaters in total time on ice (1st; 1,471:35 – more than 400 minutes ahead of the next-closes player), average time on ice (1st; 24:07), power-play goals (1st; 7), power-play points (1st; 15), shots on goal (1st; 146), game-winning goals (t-1st; 4), plus/minus (2nd; +14), assists (3rd; 24), points (3rd; 44) and power-play assists (t-5th; 8) through 61 total games this season.
Second Star – Arturs Silovs (G – PIT)
- Silovs stopped 51 of the 52 shots he faced, compiling a 2-0-0 record, 0.50 goals-against average, .981 save percentage and one shutout as the Penguins (31-15-13, 75 points) maintained their hold on second place in the Metropolitan Division. He made 29 saves, including 11 in both the second and third periods, in a 4-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils Feb. 26. Silovs then earned his second career shutout (also Oct. 7 at NYR) with 22 stops in a 2-0 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights March 1. The 24-year-old Silovs, who represented Latvia at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, places fourth among rookie goaltenders with 13 wins through 28 total appearances this NHL season (13-7-8, 2.75 GAA, .902 SV%, 2 SO).
Third Star – Matt Boldy (LW – MIN)
- Boldy, fresh off winning a gold medal with the United States at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, led the NHL with 3-4—7 in three contests for the Wild (35-16-10, 80 points). He registered 2-2—4, his fifth career and second straight four-point effort (also Feb. 4 at NSH: 3-1—4), in a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche Feb. 26. Boldy then posted 1-1—2 in a 5-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth Feb. 27 and one assist in a 3-1 defeat versus the St. Louis Blues March 1 to finish the week with points on seven of Minnesota’s eight total goals. The 24-year-old Boldy, who has points in nine consecutive games dating to Jan. 24 (8-10—18), shares second place in the League with 35 goals and sits ninth with 69 points through 57 total outings this season (35-34—69).
*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota Wild.
*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.
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