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 record 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 explicit order on the subject of the quantity of buzz that they are creating. We’ll revisit the Star Energy Index each week all through the common season.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has been restricted by damage in a number of stretches this season. Nonetheless, Matthews is now again within the lineup and excelling at a excessive charge on the offensive finish of the ice.

Matthews is at the moment on a five-game aim streak and scored his twentieth aim of the season in Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Maple Leafs middle reached the 20-goal mark for the ninth consecutive season, and tied Darryl Sittler (9) for the fourth-most 20-goal seasons in group historical past behind solely Mats Sundin (13), Dave Keon (11) and Ron Ellis (11). 

As well as, Matthews is also now tied for fifth amongst American-born gamers for probably the most consecutive 20-goal seasons. Solely Brett Hull (17), Patrick Kane (13), Keith Tkachuk (12) and Phil Kessel (11) have extra 20-goal campaigns than Matthews.

Matthews has racked up six targets and an help in his final 5 video games. That features a sturdy efficiency in a 5-3 win towards the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.

Through the first interval of Monday’s contest, Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson despatched the puck up into the impartial zone the place ahead Matthew Knies redirected it to a surging Matthews. With an enormous burst of pace, Matthews charged into the offensive zone, and ripped a shot via the five-hole of Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson.

Matthews additionally confirmed off his sensational playmaking abilities later within the sport.

On the 19:37 mark of the second interval, Matthew possessed the puck within the impartial zone and dropped it off to teammate Matthew 
Knies. Knies truly ended up passing the puck again to Matthews, who introduced it into the Lightning zone earlier than giving it as much as Mitch Marner close to the blue line. Shortly after receiving the puck, Marner discovered Knies reducing in direction of the aim, and Knies was capable of corral it for the spectacular aim.

Matthews is arguably one of many league’s most gifted playmakers, and can get the chance to showcase that means on the world stage on the 4 Nations Face-Off event when he performs for america.

It is honest to say that the Nashville Predators’ spending spree in free company hasn’t precisely netted the outcomes that the franchise hoped for. Whereas the group is at the moment outdoors of the Western Convention playoff image, star ahead Jonathan Marchessault is main the cost within the hopes of righting the ship.

Marchessault signed a four-year, $27.5 million contract with the Predators this previous offseason after spending the earlier seven seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. Nashville additionally signed veteran ahead Steven Stamkos and defenseman Brady Skjei in an try to make a run on the Stanley Cup.

Marchessault had a pedestrian begin to the season as he tallied simply 4 targets and eight assists within the first two months. Nonetheless, the gifted winger has actually turned his sport round in a giant manner.

The 34-year previous at the moment has a 10-game level streak, whereas additionally getting onto the rating sheet in 18 of his final 19 video games. Marchessault just lately recorded a aim and three assists en path to the Predators overcoming a 5-2 deficit in a 7-5 win towards the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Marchessault factored into 4 of the Predators’ six unanswered targets within the comeback. The truth is, Nashville had a 0-173-0 all-time file when trailing by not less than 4 targets previous to Tuesday’s victory.

After falling behind 5-1, the Predators did reduce into the deficit with targets from Fedor Svechkov and Justin Barron within the second interval. Over the ultimate 20 minutes, Marchessault affected the sport on numerous events.

Simply 28 seconds into the third interval, Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby bought the puck over to Stamkos, who put the again on web. After the puck briefly deflected off of Sharks defenseman Jake Walman, Marchessault was capable of swat the puck into the web to make it a 5-4 sport.

Marchessault additionally tallied secondary assists on third interval targets from Roman Josi and Nick Blankenburg, and finally helped will his group to an enormous come-from-behind win.

Regardless of getting into his mid 30s, Marchessault has nonetheless offered that he hasn’t misplaced any of his goal-scoring means. The Predators clearly have an extended approach to go in the event that they needed to achieve the postseason as they’re at the moment 10 factors out of the ultimate Wild Card spot within the Western Convention. Nonetheless, if Marchessault can proceed to rack up targets like he did in Vegas, then the playoffs might nonetheless be an attainable aim for Nashville.

The Colorado Avalanche possess a deadly offensive unit that features the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, however Cale Makar continues to show that he may be probably the most integral a part of that unit.

Makar makes an influence on each ends of the ice, but it surely’s exhausting to argue that he is among the most gifted offensive-minded defensemen throughout the league. As of late, the 26-year previous has displayed his offensive acumen with three targets in his final three video games.

Makar produced a highlight-reel aim when the Avalanche had been trailing the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 within the third interval of Wednesday’s contest. 

On the 7:05 mark of the third interval, Rantanen introduced the puck into the offensive zone and appeared as if he knew precisely the place Makar could be. As Rantanen entered the zone, he uncorked a backhanded move that discovered a reducing Makar, who made his manner in direction of the web. Regardless of shedding an edge on the play, Makar was nonetheless capable of go backhand-to-forehand, and flipped the puck over the shoulder of Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck.

One of many issues that made that great aim potential was Makar’s spectacular skating means. The Avalanche defenseman is ready to activate the jets at a second’s discover and that led to him with the ability to get to the web.

Makar at the moment appears like he may very well be the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy to honor the league’s prime defenseman. In spite of everything, the Avalanche standout at the moment ranks first in factors (53), targets (16), whereas being tied for third in assists (37) amongst NHL defensemen on the season.

The Washington Capitals have put collectively fairly the goaltender tandem between Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren this season. The truth is, Thompson has positioned himself among the many NHL’s greatest through the first half of the season.

Coming into Friday, Thompson at the moment ranks third amongst NHL goaltenders in wins (22), goals-against-average (2.09), and save share (.925). 

In his most up-to-date outing, Thompson stopped 30 of 32 pictures that he confronted in a 3-2 win towards the Edmonton Oilers. 

The previous Vegas Golden Knights netminder has allowed two or fewer targets in 5 consecutive video games. Throughout that stretch, Thompson has recorded 5 wins, a 0.80 goals-against-average, and a .969 save share, and recorded shutouts towards the Anaheim Geese and Ottawa Senators in back-to-back video games.

Thompson has actually thrived since being acquired in a commerce with the Golden Knights through the offseason. The truth is, he is one of many huge causes that the Capitals discover themselves sitting atop the Metropolitan Division at this level within the season, given his stabilizing presence in between the pipes.