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 very good factor — it implies that they’re capturing a considerable amount of the hockey world’s consideration.

These gamers are in no specific order with regards to 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 present on a five-game objective streak and scored his twentieth objective of the season in Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Maple Leafs heart reached the 20-goal mark for the ninth consecutive season, and tied Darryl Sittler (9) for the fourth-most 20-goal seasons in workforce 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 essentially 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 objectives and an help in his final 5 video games. That features a robust efficiency in a 5-3 win in opposition to 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 by means of the five-hole of Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson.

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

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 really 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 chopping in the direction of the objective, and Knies was capable of corral it for the spectacular objective.

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 match when he performs for the US.

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 workforce is at present exterior 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 and make a run on the Stanley Cup.

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

The 34-year outdated at present has a 10-game level streak, whereas additionally getting onto the rating sheet in 18 of his final 19 video games.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

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

After falling behind 5-1, the Predators did reduce into the deficit with objectives 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 recreation.

Marchessault additionally tallied secondary assists on third interval objectives from Roman Josi and Nick Blankenburg, and in the end helped will his workforce to an enormous come-from-behind win.

Regardless of getting into his mid 30s, Marchessault has nonetheless supplied that he hasn’t misplaced any of his goal-scoring means. The Predators clearly have an extended solution to go in the event that they needed to succeed in the postseason as they’re at present 10 factors out of the ultimate Wild Card spot within the Western Convention. Nonetheless, if Marchessault can proceed to rack up objectives like he did in Vegas, then the playoffs may nonetheless be an attainable objective 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 is perhaps essentially the most integral a part of that unit.

Makar makes an influence on each ends of the ice, but it surely’s arduous to argue that he is without doubt one of the most gifted offensive-minded defensemen throughout the league. As of late, the 26-year outdated has displayed his offensive acumen with three objectives in his final three video games.

Makar produced a highlight-reel objective 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 can be. As Rantanen entered the zone, he uncorked a backhanded go that discovered a chopping Makar, who made his means in the 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 super objective attainable 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 present seems like he could possibly be the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy to honor the league’s high defenseman. In any case, the Avalanche standout at present ranks first in factors (53), objectives (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. In truth, Thompson has positioned himself among the many NHL’s finest throughout the first half of the season.

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

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

The previous Vegas Golden Knights netminder has allowed two or fewer objectives in 5 consecutive video games. Throughout that stretch, Thompson has recorded 5 wins, a 0.80 goals-against-average, and a .969 save proportion, and recorded shutouts in opposition to 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 throughout the offseason. In truth, he is one of many large 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.