Welcome to the NHL Star Energy Index: A weekly gauge of the gamers who’re controlling substantial buzz across the league. When a participant is included on this checklist it might not be a great 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 Energy Index each week all through the common season.

Alex Ovechkin entered the 2024-25 season chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time targets file, and reaching that mark might quickly develop into a actuality.

After an especially productive week, Ovechkin finds himself simply 33 targets away from tying Gretzky’s file of 894 profession targets. Ovechkin has racked up 4 targets and 5 assists over his final 4 video games, and tallied consecutive three-point outings in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 31 and in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 2.

In doing so, the Capitals ahead turns into the fourth participant in NHL historical past to file back-to-back three-point performances at 39 years or older. Ovechkin joins the likes of Jean Ratelle (Nov. 27-29, 1980), Tim Horton (March 5-6, 1969), and Gordie Howe (Oct. 27-31, 1968) as the one gamers to perform such a feat.

Ovechkin additionally tallied a objective in a 4-2 loss in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 3 to offer him a objective in 4 consecutive video games. He additionally grew to become the primary participant since Jaromir Jagr (March 20-25, 2013) to file a four-game objective streak at age 39 or older. 

Most not too long ago, Ovechkin prolonged his objective streak to 5 video games when he tallied a objective and an help in opposition to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s contest was deadlocked at 2-2 halfway by way of the third quarter when Ovechkin made his mark on the sport. On the 10:25 mark, Capitals ahead Dylan Strome was capable of dig the puck free behind the web and located Ovechkin for a sensational one-timer that discovered its approach over the shoulder of Predators goaltender Juuse Saros. 

That ended up being the game-winning objective because the Capitals topped the Predators 3-2 on Wednesday. The tally was the a hundred and thirtieth game-winning objective of Ovechkin’s profession, and solely Jaromir Jagr has extra game-winning targets (135) than the Capitals star.

Following Ovechkin’s latest sizzling streak, the 39-year-old is on tempo to attain 55 targets this season. Whereas he seemingly will not have the ability to sustain with that tempo, Ovechkin is just 34 targets from breaking Gretzky’s file with not even 1 / 4 of the 2024-25 marketing campaign within the books. The file definitely is within the realm of potentialities as Ovechkin has gotten off to a way more productive begin than he did in 2023-24.

Martin Necas has actually ramped his scoring efforts over the past week and continues the tempo the Carolina Hurricanes within the majority of offensive metrics.

Necas presently leads the Hurricanes in targets factors (20), assists (13), and power-play assists (6). On prime of that, Necas is scoring on a 25.9% of his photographs, good for second on the crew.

Necas has tallied three targets and 6 assists throughout his final three video games, and he is using a four-game objective streak. The Hurricanes star racked up three factors (a objective and two assists) in a 4-2 win in opposition to the Washington Capitals on Sunday. His objective ended up being the game-winner to raise the Hurricanes previous their Metropolitan Division foes.

The Hurricanes heart additionally showcased a aptitude for the dramatic when he additionally scored the game-winning objective in a 6-4 win in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. 

Within the last minute versus the Flyers, the 2 groups had been knotted at 4-4. The Hurricanes had possession of the puck and ahead Jesperi Kotkaniemi uncorked a shot that was stopped by Flyers netminder Aleksei Kolosov. Nonetheless, the Flyers weren’t capable of clear the puck out of the crease and Necas deposited a rebound into the again of the web.

Necas’ objective gave the Hurricanes a 5-4 benefit with simply 29.3 seconds remaining within the third interval. Carolina did add an empty-net objective courtesy of winger Seth Jarvis and got here away with a hard-fought 6-4 win.

Necas has gotten extraordinarily sizzling as of late with all seven of his targets coming over the past three weeks. If Necas can proceed to stay sizzling, the Hurricanes definitely may very well be a drive to be reckoned with within the Metropolitan Division.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes has been ramping up his offensive manufacturing in a giant approach of late. 

Hughes has recorded a objective and 5 assists in his final three video games, whereas tallying back-to-back multiple-point performances in his final two contests. The veteran defenseman has additionally racked up no less than some extent in 4 of his final 5 video games.

Hughes actually displayed his offensive acumen within the third interval when he helped the Canucks distance themselves from the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. On the 2:44 mark of the third interval, the Canucks had been clinging to a 2-1 lead when Hughes made his mark on the sport.

The Canucks captain discovered himself stick-handling on the blue line when some tempo finally opened up. Hughes was ready make the most of a display from teammate J.T. Miller in entrance of the web, and precisely positioned the puck previous Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper to increase the Canucks result in 3-1.

Previous to that, Hughes additionally tallied the first help on a objective from Vancouver ahead Jake DeBrusk that initially gave them a 2-1 benefit.

Hughes has cemented himself as one of many league’s prime two-way defensemen. He presently ranks third within the NHL in factors (14) behind solely Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets. 

Hughes has picked up proper the place he left off after profitable his first profession Norris Trophy because the league’s prime defenseman. With Hughes’ robust play on the blue line, the Canucks seem like they may very well be a dominant drive within the Western Convention but once more in 2024-25.

The Winnipeg Jets have gotten off to the perfect begin within the NHL with a 13-1-0 mark to start the 2024-25 season. Whereas they’re averaging 4.5 targets on a nightly foundation, an excessive amount of their success may also be traced again to the terrific play within the crease from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

As ought to come as no shock given the crew’s dominance, Hellebuyck has tallied an NHL-best 10 wins. Nonetheless, Hellebuyck has additionally racked up a 1.91 goals-against common and a .932 save share, which each rank second throughout the league.

Based on MoneyPuck, Hellebuyck has produced a .967 save share when going through unblocked photographs on the season. 

Hellebuyck has recorded back-to-back shutouts to assist the Jets maintain their profitable methods alive. Most not too long ago, the veteran goaltender turned apart all 35 photographs that he confronted in a 1-0 win in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Whereas the Avalanche aren’t fairly at 100% proper now, it is nonetheless downright spectacular to maintain the opposing crew off the scoreboard when he is being peppered with that many photographs.

In truth, Hellebuyck has surrendered two targets or much less in three of his final 4 video games in entrance of the league’s prime scoring offense.

Hellebuyck is a stabilizing presence in between the pipes and undoubtedly has earned the standing of being an elite netminder. Winnipeg definitely seems like a juggernaut up to now this season, and Hellebuyck’s play might maintain them trying that approach.