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 is probably not factor — it signifies 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.

It was a tough begin to the 2023-24 season for Alex Ovechkin, however the Washington Capitals star has utterly turned this marketing campaign round following the All-Star break.

Ovechkin has tallied seven objectives and an help over his final 5 video games, together with three two-goal performances in that stretch. The Capitals winger is already having the very best month of his season with 15 factors (10 objectives & 5 assists) in 13 video games in March.

Ovechkin can be one of many largest causes that the Capitals are making a push towards a possible playoff berth. On Sunday, the Capitals shut out the Winnipeg Jets 3-0, and Ovechkin led the cost with a pair of objectives in that contest.

In doing so, Ovechkin turned the third participant in NHL historical past to document 18 25-goal seasons as he joined Gordie Howe (20) and Jaromir Jagr (18). He additionally turned the fourth-oldest participant in league historical past to document a five-game purpose streak together with Brett Hull (39 years outdated in 2003-04), Johnny Bucyk (39 years outdated in 1974-75), and Joe Pavelski (38 years outdated in 2022-23).

Throughout the third interval of Sunday’s recreation, defenseman John Carlson acquired the scoring began with a power-play purpose to present the Capitals a 1-0 lead. Simply over two minutes later, teammate Connor McMichael tried to win the face-off, and the puck stayed put proper within the face-off circle. Ovechkin then ripped a shot that simply squeaked previous goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for a purpose.

Later within the interval, the Capitals had been in a position to put the Jets away. T.J. Oshie introduced the puck into the offensive zone earlier than dropping it off to teammate Dylan Strome. Upon receiving the puck close to the blue line, Strome fired a pinpoint move over to Ovechkin, who was in a position to convert a backhanded purpose in on their lonesome on Hellebuyck.

Ovechkin has confirmed to be a goal-scoring machine as of late, which has been big for a Capitals staff that’s trying to make a playoff push. 

The Capitals star sits simply 46 objectives behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time objectives document. Contemplating the recent streak that he is on, that document might be attainable subsequent season for Ovechkin if he scores a handful of objectives over the season’s ultimate month.

Auston Matthews has definitely had no drawback placing the puck within the web this season, and that truth does not appear to be it is altering anytime quickly.

The Toronto Maple Leafs star has tallied 4 objectives and 5 assists in his final 4 video games. What could be much more mind-boggling is the truth that Matthews is averaging 6.25 photographs per contest, together with placing the puck on web a staggering 9 occasions in Tuesday’s 6-3 loss in opposition to the New Jersey Devils.

Matthews recorded a purpose on Tuesday, and it marked the fourth time within the final seven video games that the Maple Leafs middle has discovered the again of the web.

Throughout Tuesday’s recreation, the Maple Leafs discovered themselves knotted at 2-2 with the Devils within the second interval. That is when Matthews made his influence on the competition.

On the 4:51 mark of the second interval, Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin fired the puck from his personal zone to Matthews, who was already down within the offensive zone. Matthews was in a position to corral the puck, outmuscle Devils defenseman Simon Nemec, and despatched a sweeping shot previous goaltender Jake Allen to present the Maple Leafs a 3-2 lead.

Matthews at present has 59 objectives on the season and is on tempo to attain one other 10 earlier than the postseason. The Maple Leafs star can have topped the 60-goal mark for the second time in three seasons if he will get only one extra.

The Maple Leafs is the league’s chief in objectives by a commanding margin as he holds an eight-goal benefit over Florida Panthers star Sam Reinhart for the consideration. 

The Nashville Predators are arguably the NHL’s hottest staff with a 16-0-2 document over their final 18 video games. One of many fundamental causes for that elevated stage of success has been due to star defenseman Roman Josi.

Josi has registered 4 objectives and 4 assists over his final 5 video games. As well as, the Predators veteran defenseman is at present on a six-game level streak.

In Tuesday’s 5-4 time beyond regulation win in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights, Josi confirmed simply how clutch he will be.

The Golden Knights possessed a commanding 4-1 lead getting into the third interval, and the Predators had been going through an uphill climb. Nonetheless, Ryan O’Reilly, Filip Forsberg, and Gustav Nyquist scored objectives to tie the sport, and in the end drive time beyond regulation.

Simply 40 seconds into the time beyond regulation interval, the Predators deployed a spectacular three-man recreation with terrific puck motion. Ahead Filip Forsberg handed the puck off to teammate Ryan O’Reilly, who then dropped it off to Josi close to the blue line. Josi then stick-handled his means in direction of the Golden Knights web, and was in a position to get in deep and tuck the puck previous goaltender Jiri Patera to present the Predators an exhilarating victory.

Josi is usually recognized for being a stabilizing drive on the blue line, however he has additionally continued to be an offensive weapon in latest seasons. The Predators defenseman is simply 4 objectives from tying his career-high in objectives (23) that he set through the 2021-22 season.

Because the Predators make their means towards a playoff berth, having Josi enjoying at an elite stage offensively is a sensation sight to see.

Whereas Jake Guentzel was an enormous addition to the Carolina Hurricanes roster, he is probably not an important piece that just lately returned to the ice.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen had been out of the lineup since November because of a blood clot problem. Andersen made his means again to the ice earlier this month and has been distinctive ever since.

In his six video games since returning, Andersen has tallied a 6-0-0 document to associate with a 1.34 goals-against-average and a .951 save proportion. Andersen has surrendered two objectives or much less in every of these video games and even registered a shutout throughout that stretch.

In his most up-to-date outing, Andersen stopped 32 of the 33 photographs that he confronted in a 2-1 win in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Andersen offers Carolina a stabilizing presence within the crease with the Stanley Cup Playoffs proper across the nook. Having a stable one-two punch with Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov might be extraordinarily useful come playoff time.