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 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.

The Boston Bruins are presently on the skin wanting in on a possible playoff berth, however David Pastrnak is single-handedly holding the group inside hanging distance.

Pastrnak is presently embarking on a 12-game level streak through which he is tallied 11 objectives and 14 assists over that span. His level streak is tied for the Eleventh-longest level streak in franchise historical past.

The Bruins star ahead has additionally racked up eight factors (4 objectives & 4 assists) over his final 5 video games. In Boston’s 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday, Pastrnak was capable of lengthen his spectacular level streak to 12 video games with a purpose.

On the 15:03 mark of the second interval, Bruins ahead Pavel Zacha was maneuvering the puck when he discovered Pastrnak ready for the puck within the face-off circle. Pastrnak shortly uncorked a one-timer that was blocked, however the puck got here proper again to Pastrnak. The Bruins star then ripped a snap shot previous Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who was being screened on the play.

Previous to Wednesday’s one-goal efficiency, the Bruins star additionally compiled a hat trick in a 6-3 win in opposition to the Rangers on Saturday.

With underneath three minutes remaining within the second interval, Pastrnak obtained on the board for the primary time without work an help from teammate Matthew Poitras. Poitras was capable of achieve management of the puck behind the web and fed Pastrnak, who was slicing in entrance of the web. Pastrnak simply deposited the puck over the glove of Shesterkin.

Pastrnak completed off the hat trick efficiency with an empty-net tally late in Saturday’s contest.

Throughout Pastrnak’s sensational level streak, he is registered a minimum of a purpose in eight of these contests, together with 4 in his final three video games. Pastrnak had simply 13 objectives within the first three months of the season, however has exploded for 15 objectives because the begin of 2025.

Whereas the Bruins might not be the elite group that they’ve been in earlier seasons, Pastrnak is placing collectively fairly a formidable marketing campaign. He is presently tied for sixth within the league in factors (67), and will vault himself into the Hart Trophy dialog if his sizzling streak continues.

After considerably of a down yr in 2023-24, Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson has bounce again in a giant manner this season.

Thompson has compiled 4 objectives and 4 assists in his final three video games alone. Inside that span, the Sabres standout tallied a three-point efficiency (one purpose & two assists) in a 4-3 win in opposition to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.

Thompson did not waste any time getting onto the rating sheet in Sunday’s contest. Simply 8:11 into the sport, Sabres defenseman Owen Energy introduced the puck in from the impartial zone and let go a robust shot that Devils goaltender Jake Allen was capable of cease. Nevertheless, Allen allowed a really juicy rebound that Thompson was capable of pounce on within the slot, and snap it into the again of the web for the sport’s first purpose.

Simply over seven minutes later, Thompson impacted the sport but once more when he earned the first help on ahead JJ Peterka’s purpose to provide the Sabres a 2-0 benefit. 

The Sabres star has additionally racked up seven objectives in his final seven video games, however is presently on the injured record because of a concussion that he suffered in Sunday’s sport.

Thompson is presently on tempo for 84 factors (45 objectives & 39 assists) this season, which might be the second-highest output of his eight-year NHL profession. 

The Sabres are presently on a four-game profitable streak as they get set to tackle the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. If Thompson is ready to swimsuit up, he’ll have an opportunity to increase his level streak to 4 straight video games.

In simply three quick seasons, Jake Sanderson has developed into one of many extra gifted defensemen that the NHL has to supply. Because the common season strikes alongside, the Ottawa Senators blue-liner continues to thrive on each ends of the ice.

Sanderson registered an help in Tuesday’s 4-3 loss in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and prolonged his level streak to 5 consecutive video games. Previous to Tuesday’s contest, Sanderson had a three-game purpose streak, which tied a franchise file for a defenseman.

Sanderson additionally grew to become simply the fifth defenseman this season to tally a minimum of a three-game purpose streak as he joined the likes of Shayne Gostisbehere (4), Colton Parayko (3), Brandon Montour (3), and Rasmus Dahlin (3). 

The Senators blue-liner was capable of rating a purpose in his third consecutive contest in a 5-2 win in opposition to the Nashville Predators on Monday.

On the 13:04 mark of the second interval, Senators ahead Matthew Highmore was capable of shovel the puck again to Sanderson on the level. Sanderson displayed unbelievable persistence as he straddled alongside the blue line, and was capable of ship a cannon of a shot that obtained previous Predators goaltender Juuse Saros.

Sanderson is within the midst of getting a profession season as he presently is on tempo for 54 factors. That might far surpass his earlier career-best season of 38 factors (10 objectives & 28 assists), which he recorded in the course of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.

Since tallying a 3.45 goals-against-average in December, Ilya Sorokin has actually hit his stride and supplied a gradual presence within the New York Islanders crease.

Sorokin has tallied a 3-0-0 file to associate with a 1.00 goals-against-average and a .966 save proportion over his final three video games. In reality, the Islanders netminder hasn’t landed within the loss column since Jan. 16 in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers and has now been victorious in seven consecutive outings.

Most not too long ago, Sorokin turned apart 33 of the 34 photographs that he confronted in a 2-1 win in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. The Islanders goaltender stopped 13 of the 14 photographs that the Golden Knights peppered him with within the third interval and did not permit his lone purpose till 47:40 into the competition.

Sorokin has additionally tallied a minimum of 30 saves in three of his final 4 begins. 

The veteran goaltender struggled final season with a career-worst 3.01 goals-against-average and a .909 save proportion. Nevertheless, regardless of the Islanders have their share of up-and-downs this season, Sorokin has been the one fixed during the last two months, and has the group inside earshot of the playoff race.