Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of March 16th through 22nd.
First Star – Nikita Kucherov (RW – TB)
- Kucherov moved into first place in the Art Ross Trophy race by leading the NHL in goals (6), assists (t-7), points (13), game-winning goals (t-2), shots on goal (t-20) and plus/minus (+11) across four contests as the Lightning (43-21-5, 91 points) completed a 3-0-1 week. He notched 3-2—5, his seventh career hat trick and ninth career five-point performance (that also included his 63rd career game-winning goal), in a 6-2 triumph over the Seattle Kraken March 17. Kucherov then registered 1-2—3, his ninth three-point effort of the season, in a 6-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks March 19. He followed that with 2-2—4, featuring his League-best ninth outing with at least four points in 2025-26, team-leading seventh game-winning goal of the campaign, 40th overall tally of the season and first career shorthanded goal/point, in a 5-2 decision versus the Edmonton Oilers March 21. Kucherov then added one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames March 22. The 32-year-old Kucherov, who was as many as 22 points back of first place in the Art Ross Trophy race this season (through games of Dec. 23), now tops the NHL with 40-79—119 through 65 total appearances as he pursues his third straight and fourth overall scoring title.
Second Star – Filip Forsberg (LW – NAS)
- Forsberg ranked second in the NHL with 4-5—9 in four games to propel the Predators (33-28-9, 75 points) to a perfect week and into the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference. He posted 1?1—2 in a 4-3 shootout victory against the Winnipeg Jets March 17. Forsberg then earned the primary assist on the decisive goal in each of Nashville’s next two contests, a 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken March 19 (in which he totaled 1-2—3, his fifth three-point performance of the campaign) and a 4-1 triumph versus the Vegas Golden Knights March 21. He capped the week with 2-1—3, highlighted by his franchise-record 12th career overtime goal, in a 3-2 decision against the Chicago Blackhawks March 22. The 31-year-old Forsberg, who became the sixth Swedish-born player in League history to accumulate at least 350 career goals, sits second on the Predators in goals (32) and points (62) through 70 total games this season (32-30—62).
Third Star – Cole Caufield (RW – MON)
- Caufield collected 4-4—8 in three appearances to power Montreal (38-21-10, 86 points) to a pair of victories. He recorded 1-1—2, including his franchise-record 13th career overtime goal, in a 3-2 triumph over the Boston Bruins March 17 to become the first Canadiens player to reach the 40-goal milestone in a single season since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. Caufield then assisted on Montreal’s lone tally in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings March 19. He finished the week with 3-2—5, his third career hat trick and first career five-point performance (the first by a Canadiens player since Feb. 26, 2019), in a 7-3 victory against the New York Islanders March 21. The 25-year-old Caufield, who has points in five straight games dating to March 14 (6-4—10) and nine of his 11 outings since the Olympic break (11-6—17), ranks second in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race with 43 goals through 68 total contests this season (43-31—74).
*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, and Montreal Canadiens.
*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.
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