Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of December 22nd through 28th.
First Star – Nikita Kucherov (RW – TB)
- Kucherov registered a League-leading 4-2—6 in three contests to propel the Lightning (22-13-3, 47 points) to a perfect week and into second place in the Atlantic Division. He collected a pair of assists in a 4-1 win against the St. Louis Blues Dec. 22. Kucherov then scored twice in each of his next two outings, notching his 61st career game-winning goal (and fourth of the season) in a 4-2 triumph over the Florida Panthers Dec. 27 and posting his 54th career multi-goal performance (and fourth of the campaign) in a 5?4 shootout victory against the Montreal Canadiens Dec. 28. The 32-year-old Kucherov, who has won the Art Ross Trophy each of the past two seasons (and three times overall), sits seventh in the NHL with 17-32—49 through 34 total appearances in 2025-26.
Second Star – Eeli Tolvanen (RW – SEA)
- Tolvanen ranked second in the NHL with 2-4—6 in three games to guide the Kraken (16-14-6, 38 points) to their fourth straight win (dating to Dec. 20) as they moved within one point of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. He recorded one assist in a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 22 before adding a pair of helpers in a 3-2 triumph versus the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 23. Tolvanen then registered 2-1—3, his sixth career multi-goal game and eighth career three-point performance, in a 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers Dec. 28. The 26-year-old Tolvanen, who has points in six straight games dating to Dec. 16 (3-7—10), tops Seattle with 7-18—25 through 36 total contests this season.
Third Star – Juraj Slafkovsky (LW – MON)
- Slafkovský produced 3-2—5 across two outings to help the Canadiens (20-12-6, 46 points) go 1?0-1 and extend their point streak to five games dating to Dec. 18 (3-0-2). He collected 1-1—2 in a 6-2 win versus the Boston Bruins Dec. 23. Slafkovský then notched 2-1—3, including the tying goal with 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation, in an eventual 5-4 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 28. The 21-year-old Slafkovský, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft, ranks fifth on Montreal with 13-15—28 through 38 total appearances this season after recording a career-best 18-33—51 in 2024-25 (79 GP).
*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, Tampa Bay Lightning, Seattle Kraken, and Montreal Canadiens.
*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.
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