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 will not be a great factor — it signifies that they’re capturing a considerable amount of the hockey world’s consideration.

These gamers are in no explicit order in terms of the quantity of buzz that they are creating. We’ll revisit the Star Energy Index each week all through the common season.

Sidney Crosby could also be within the latter a part of his profession, however the Pittsburgh Penguins captain stays a big-time offensive producer.

Crosby has recorded a three-game purpose streak, together with scoring the additional time winner in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Membership. It additionally marked the fourth purpose for Crosby in his previous 5 video games.

In Wednesday’s contest, Crosby’s game-winning purpose gave him a purpose and help on the evening, marking the 207th multi-point efficiency of his NHL profession. 

Crosby ended up tying Colorado Avalanche legend Joe Sakic for probably the most multi-point video games in NHL historical past.

With slightly over a minute to go in additional time, Penguins ahead Cody Glass dropped off a go for Crosby within the face-off circle of the offensive zone. Upon scooping up the puck, Crosby made his cost towards the entrance of the web, and flipped his patented backhanded shot over the glove of Utah Hockey Membership goaltender Connor Ingram.

In doing so, Crosby scored the twenty third additional time purpose of his skilled profession. 

Earlier within the sport, Crosby earned a main help on a purpose from teammate Marcus Pettersson. On the 6:40 mark of the second interval, Crosby tried to arrange a Rickard Rakell purpose, however Rakell’s shot was turned apart by Ingram. Nevertheless, Crosby was capable of safe the unfastened puck within the nook earlier than sending it out to the blue line. On the blue line, Pettersson was ready for the puck and uncorked an enormous slap shot that discovered the again of the web.

At 37 years outdated, Crosby is on tempo for 85 factors this season. It is unclear if Crosby will end his profession with the Penguins, who’re 5 factors out of the ultimate Wild Card spot within the Jap Convention. No matter the place he’s taking part in, Crosby remains to be an elite expertise on the ice.

Wyatt Johnston is wrapping up the best month of the season as he is been racking up at factors at will.

The Dallas Stars ahead has tallied 17 factors (5 targets, 12 assists) in January. Johnston even managed to report a hat trick in Tuesday’s 4-3 additional time win towards the Vegas Golden Knights. 

The Stars had been trailing the Golden Knights 3-1 when Johnston erupted with a pure hat trick of three consecutive targets. Johnston even scored the additional time game-winner to raise Dallas to a hard-fought street victory. 

Johnston turned the youngest participant (21 years, 259 days) in staff historical past to attain a pure hat trick, edging out teammate Tyler Seguin (21 years, 310 days on Dec. 7, 2013). 

On the 5:04 mark of the second interval, Stars ahead Roope Hintz was capable of intercept a go in his personal zone and began the offensive rush down the ice. Hintz had loads of open ice in entrance of him and ripped a shot on web that goaltender Adin Hill acquired a bit of. Nevertheless, Johnston was in the best place on the proper time as he rapidly deposited the rebound into the web for a shorthanded purpose to make it a 3-2 deficit.

Johnston ended up tying the sport at 3-3 halfway by the third interval. Hintz and Johnston mixed to supply one other sensational purpose as the 2 recorded a formidable give-and-go that finally resulted in Johnston sending a snap shot into the web.

After the groups had been tied following regulation, Johnston made his mark on the sport a closing time. Simply 20 seconds into the additional body, Johnston scored one of many best targets of his profession. Defenseman Esa Lindell despatched the puck forward to Johnston, and Johnston slide it throughout to Hintz in a two-on-one state of affairs. Hintz rapidly made the choice to go it again to Johnston, who tucked the puck right into a wide-open web to win the sport.

After scoring 32 targets in his sophomore season in 2023-24, Johnston has seen slightly little bit of a dip in manufacturing after a gradual begin. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old has tallied eight targets over the past month, and has recorded a degree in seven of his final eight video games. The Stars will want Johnston to maintain surging in the event that they wish to attain the highest of the Central Division.

It is secure to say the Vancouver Canucks’ season hasn’t precisely been what the franchise envisioned, because it’s barely clinging to a playoff spot. Nonetheless, star defenseman Quinn Hughes has managed to supply one other stellar marketing campaign, and continues to make historical past within the course of.

Hughes tallied a pair of assists in Monday’s 5-2 win towards the St. Louis Blues. In doing so, he turned the primary defenseman in franchise historical past to report his one hundredth multi-point sport.

Hughes additionally tallied his 77th profession multi-assist sport within the course of, tying Thomas Gradin for the fourth-most in staff historical past. Now, Hughes solely trails Henrik Sedin (181), Daniel Sedin (107) and Stan Smyl (79) for probably the most profession multi-assist video games in Canucks historical past. 

It did not take Hughes lengthy to get his evening began on the best foot. Simply 2:52 into Monday’s contest, ahead Jake DeBrusk was capable of get the puck free and Hughes scooped it up close to his personal purpose line. Hughes then roared down the ice into the Blues zone, the place he handed the puck throughout the slot to Conor Garland for the bang-bang purpose.

Hughes earned his second main help of the sport on the 8:26 mark of the second interval when the Canucks had been on the ability play. The veteran defenseman possessed the puck in his personal zone, and despatched a rocket go the size the ice to teammate J.T. Miller. Miller was capable of get in on their lonesome on the breakaway and snapped a shot previous Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.

Coming into Friday, Hughes leads all NHL defensemen in factors (58) as he holds a two-point benefit over Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. His 44 assists additionally lead all NHL blue-liners after tallying 4 assists over his final two video games.

Connor Hellebuyck has established himself as one of many NHL’s premier goaltenders. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender has tallied a 4-0-0 report, a 1.75 goals-against-average and a .930 save share in his final 4 begins. The American-born netminder has allowed two or fewer targets in every of these 4 contests. 

Most not too long ago, Hellebuyck turned apart 27 of the 29 pictures he confronted in a 6-2 win towards the Boston Bruins on Thursday. It additionally marked the eighth win for Hellebuyck throughout his final 9 video games.

Hellebuyck leads all NHL goaltenders in wins (32), goals-against-average, 2.00) and save share (.927). Based on Cash Puck, Hellebuyck is recording a .967 save share when he faces unblocked pictures this season, rating first amongst eligible goalies.

Coming into Friday, the Jets lead the NHL in factors (75) and want to make a possible run on the Stanley Cup. If Hellebuyck continues to supply a constant presence in between the pipes, Winnipeg actually could be one of many high contenders when the Stanley Cup Playoffs start.