Most productive player
Jason Robertson is in fantastic form. Over his last three games, he’s tallied nine points, solidifying his role as the leader of the Dallas attack.
Against Montreal, he scored twice and added an assist, then dazzled with a hat trick against Philadelphia just two days later. He netted two goals in the second period and completed the hat trick on the power play in the third. What's more, he picked up three points in Ottawa (2+1) on Tuesday.
Not only did he collect nine points over the week, but he also maintained an average of two goals per game. Connor McDavid (4+4) and Artemi Panarin (2+6) each finished the week with eight points.
Goaltender of the week
The New York Rangers notched three consecutive wins, with Igor Shesterkin in net for each one. While he didn’t record a shutout, his performances were crucial for the team.
He made 27 saves (90%) against Nashville, allowed three goals from 36 shots versus Tampa Bay (91.7%), and gave up just one goal against Columbus (96%).
Story of the week
Slovak defenseman Simon Nemec is finally showing why the New Jersey Devils made him the second overall pick in the 2022 draft. Last week was something of a breakout for him, as he played a key role in all three of his team’s games.
First, in a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, he scored a dramatic tying goal at 59:55 to force overtime and set the tone for the next game.
He then exploded against Chicago with a hat trick, capping it off with the overtime winner and setting a new league record. At 21 years and 28 days old, he became the youngest defenseman ever to score three goals in a game and clinch a win in overtime.
"This is probably my first career hat trick. I’ve never been much of a goal scorer, so I’m really happy about it. Most importantly, it was a huge team win. We were trailing three times and still managed to come out on top, so it’s awesome," he told the club’s channel after the 4-3 victory.
But that wasn’t all. The Devils then travelled to face the Washington Capitals, and even the league’s all-time leading scorer, Alexander Ovechkin, who netted his 902nd career goal in the game, had to watch as the young Slovak coolly decided the shootout and secured the extra point for New Jersey.
"When the coach told me I was up, I remembered I had one move that works. I tried it, and I’m really glad it paid off," the defenseman said in a postgame interview on the club’s website, describing how he beat Logan Thompson to seal the 3-2 win.
Stat of the week
The latest first overall pick, defenseman Matthew Schaefer, continues to surprise not just New York Islanders fans, but the entire NHL.
When he scored the game-winner at 62:06 in the matchup against the Utah Mammoth, he became the youngest player in league history to score an overtime goal.
He did it at 18 years and 70 days old, breaking Sidney Crosby's previous record by thirty days.
With fifteen points (7+8), he currently leads all NHL rookies in scoring. His seven goals are also the most among all defensemen in the league!
Social media highlight
Matthew Tkachuk and his younger brother Brady have launched a new weekly podcast called 'Wingmen', where they’ll share stories from both hockey and life off the ice.
It’s a unique project - the brothers are the first active NHL players to host their own podcast. A similar concept was previously launched by Travis Kelce and his brother Jason in the NFL, which became hugely popular.
Interestingly, the Tkachuks decided to start the podcast while both are sidelined with injuries. A new episode is expected each week, mixing fun and more serious topics. In the first episodes, the brothers will talk about their experiences, life within the team, and their sibling rivalry.
Fans on social media are responding with the usual mix of positive and negative reactions. Many appreciate that the Tkachuks are showing a more personal side - not just as professionals, but as brothers. Critics wonder if the content will stay interesting over time or if they’re simply trying to copy the Kelce brothers’ success.
Pic of the week
Detroit edged out the NY Rangers on Sunday with a narrow 2-1 win, and it was definitely worth staying until the final moments.
In the dying moments, the Manhattan side pulled their goalie, hoping to capitalise. Then Mason Appleton tried to score into the empty net just after the final buzzer, which really fired up goalie Jonathan Quick.
The American veteran jumped off the bench, confronted the Red Wings forward, and this led to a pretty remarkable photo.