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 a very good 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.

Alex Ovechkin entered the 2024-25 season chasing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time objectives file, and reaching that mark may quickly grow to be a actuality.

After a particularly productive week, Ovechkin finds himself simply 33 objectives away from tying Gretzky’s file of 894 profession objectives. Ovechkin has racked up 4 objectives and 5 assists over his final 4 video games, and tallied consecutive three-point outings in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 31 and in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 2.

In doing so, the Capitals ahead turns into the fourth participant in NHL historical past to file back-to-back three-point performances at 39 years or older. Ovechkin joins the likes of Jean Ratelle (Nov. 27-29, 1980), Tim Horton (March 5-6, 1969), and Gordie Howe (Oct. 27-31, 1968) as the one gamers to perform such a feat.

Ovechkin additionally tallied a objective in a 4-2 loss in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 3 to offer him a objective in 4 consecutive video games. He additionally grew to become the primary participant since Jaromir Jagr (March 20-25, 2013) to file a four-game objective streak at age 39 or older. 

Most not too long ago, Ovechkin prolonged his objective streak to 5 video games when he tallied a objective and an help in opposition to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s contest was deadlocked at 2-2 halfway by means of the third quarter when Ovechkin made his mark on the sport. On the 10:25 mark, Capitals ahead Dylan Strome was capable of dig the puck free behind the online and located Ovechkin for a sensational one-timer that discovered its method over the shoulder of Predators goaltender Juuse Saros. 

That ended up being the game-winning objective because the Capitals topped the Predators 3-2 on Wednesday. The tally was the a hundred and thirtieth game-winning objective of Ovechkin’s profession, and solely Jaromir Jagr has extra game-winning objectives (135) than the Capitals star.

Following Ovechkin’s latest sizzling streak, the 39-year-old is on tempo to attain 55 objectives this season. Whereas he possible will not have the ability to sustain with that tempo, Ovechkin is barely 34 objectives from breaking Gretzky’s file with not even 1 / 4 of the 2024-25 marketing campaign within the books. The file actually is within the realm of prospects as Ovechkin has gotten off to a way more productive begin than he did in 2023-24.

Martin Necas has actually ramped his scoring efforts during the last week and continues the tempo the Carolina Hurricanes within the majority of offensive metrics.

Necas at the moment leads the Hurricanes in objectives factors (20), assists (13), and power-play assists (6). On high of that, Necas is scoring on a 25.9% of his pictures, good for second on the workforce.

Necas has tallied three objectives and 6 assists throughout his final three video games, and he is driving a four-game objective streak. The Hurricanes star racked up three factors (a objective and two assists) in a 4-2 win in opposition to the Washington Capitals on Sunday. His objective ended up being the game-winner to carry the Hurricanes previous their Metropolitan Division foes.

The Hurricanes heart additionally showcased a aptitude for the dramatic when he additionally scored the game-winning objective in a 6-4 win in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. 

Within the closing minute versus the Flyers, the 2 groups had been knotted at 4-4. The Hurricanes had possession of the puck and ahead Jesperi Kotkaniemi uncorked a shot that was stopped by Flyers netminder Aleksei Kolosov. Nevertheless, the Flyers weren’t capable of clear the puck out of the crease and Necas deposited a rebound into the again of the online.

Necas’ objective gave the Hurricanes a 5-4 benefit with simply 29.3 seconds remaining within the third interval. Carolina did add an empty-net objective courtesy of winger Seth Jarvis and got here away with a hard-fought 6-4 win.

Necas has gotten extraordinarily sizzling as of late with all seven of his objectives coming during the last three weeks. If Necas can proceed to stay sizzling, the Hurricanes actually might be a pressure to be reckoned with within the Metropolitan Division.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes has been ramping up his offensive manufacturing in an enormous method of late. 

Hughes has recorded a objective and 5 assists in his final three video games, whereas tallying back-to-back multiple-point performances in his final two contests. The veteran defenseman has additionally racked up not less than a degree in 4 of his final 5 video games.

Hughes actually displayed his offensive acumen within the third interval when he helped the Canucks distance themselves from the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. On the 2:44 mark of the third interval, the Canucks had been clinging to a 2-1 lead when Hughes made his mark on the sport.

The Canucks captain discovered himself stick-handling on the blue line when some tempo finally opened up. Hughes was ready make the most of a display screen from teammate J.T. Miller in entrance of the online, and precisely positioned the puck previous Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper to increase the Canucks result in 3-1.

Previous to that, Hughes additionally tallied the first help on a objective from Vancouver ahead Jake DeBrusk that initially gave them a 2-1 benefit.

Hughes has cemented himself as one of many league’s high two-way defensemen. He at the moment ranks third within the NHL in factors (14) behind solely Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets. 

Hughes has picked up proper the place he left off after successful his first profession Norris Trophy because the league’s high defenseman. With Hughes’ robust play on the blue line, the Canucks appear like they might be a dominant pressure within the Western Convention but once more in 2024-25.

The Winnipeg Jets have gotten off to one of the best begin within the NHL with a 13-1-0 mark to start the 2024-25 season. Whereas they’re averaging 4.5 objectives on a nightly foundation, a substantial amount of their success can be traced again to the terrific play within the crease from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

As ought to come as no shock given the workforce’s dominance, Hellebuyck has tallied an NHL-best 10 wins. Nonetheless, Hellebuyck has additionally racked up a 1.91 goals-against common and a .932 save proportion, which each rank second throughout the league.

In accordance with MoneyPuck, Hellebuyck has produced a .967 save proportion when dealing with unblocked pictures on the season. 

Hellebuyck has recorded back-to-back shutouts to assist the Jets hold their successful methods alive. Most not too long ago, the veteran goaltender turned apart all 35 pictures that he confronted in a 1-0 win in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Whereas the Avalanche aren’t fairly at 100% proper now, it is nonetheless downright spectacular to maintain the opposing workforce off the scoreboard when he is being peppered with that many pictures.

Actually, Hellebuyck has surrendered two objectives or much less in three of his final 4 video games in entrance of the league’s high scoring offense.

Hellebuyck is a stabilizing presence in between the pipes and positively has earned the standing of being an elite netminder. Winnipeg actually seems to be like a juggernaut to this point this season, and Hellebuyck’s play may hold them trying that method.