Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: a weekly look at the players creating the most discussion in the league. Inclusion in this list signifies significant attention from the hockey world.
The players are listed without ranking based on buzz. This index is updated weekly during the regular season.
Auston Matthews, after an initial setback this season, seems to have found his peak form as the season progresses.
Matthews has been productive recently, scoring four goals and one assist in his last four games, notably with a strong performance on St. Patrick’s Day in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.
In a recent game, Matthews accumulated all three of his points in the second period, marking his 11th career three-point period. It was also his 36th multi-goal period, making him the all-time leader for the Maple Leafs in this statistic.
During a power play in the second period, William Nylander took a shot that was blocked, but the puck returned to him.
Nylander then located Matthews in the face-off circle, who, after assessing his options, fired a powerful shot past Flames goalie Dustin Wolf.
Shortly after, Mitch Marner made a diving play to keep the puck in the offensive zone during a power play. Matthews received the puck near the face-off circle, passed to Nylander, who then found Matthew Knies behind the net, who in turn set up Matthews for a strong one-timer from the face-off circle.
Matthews has scored four goals in his last four games, including one in a 2-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche.
Matthews’s hot streak comes at a crucial time as the Maple Leafs are closely competing with the Florida Panthers for the top playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. If Matthews maintains his scoring ability, the Maple Leafs might contend for the Stanley Cup this spring.
The New Jersey Devils are currently missing star forward Jack Hughes as the Stanley Cup Playoffs approach. Consequently, winger Jesper Bratt has taken on more offensive responsibility and is performing exceptionally.
Bratt recently had a four-game point streak, including multiple points in three of those games.
Bratt recently became the sixth player in Devils history to score at least three points in three consecutive games, and only the third in the last 30 years, joining Jack Hughes and Ilya Kovalchuk.
In a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Bratt scored for the third time in four games, proving to be the deciding factor.
During the game against Columbus, Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves attempted to play the puck from behind his net, but it bounced off. Bratt seized the opportunity, collecting the puck and shooting it into the net before Greaves could recover.
Bratt leads the Devils in points (80) and assists (60) and is a prominent playmaker in the Eastern Conference. He also leads New Jersey in power-play assists (26).
The absence of Hughes is a significant setback for the Devils, but they still have a chance to be the second seed in their division for the playoffs. If Bratt continues his current level of playmaking, the Devils will be a formidable team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Cale Makar has had an excellent March, helping the Colorado Avalanche appear as strong contenders in the Western Conference.
Makar has recorded three goals and 10 assists in nine games this month, including a goal and four assists in his last three games. Recently, the Avalanche defenseman had a goal and two assists in a 4-3 overtime win against the Dallas Stars.
Makar has achieved three or more points for the seventh time this season, becoming one of only nine defensemen in league history to reach this milestone in three different seasons, and the first since Brian Leetch.
Averaging 1.08 points per game in his career, Makar is one of only four defensemen to average at least a point per game over a minimum of 100 games, alongside Bobby Orr, Harry Cameron, and Paul Coffey.
Makar also provided a dramatic moment in the game against Dallas, scoring the overtime winner.
Just 34 seconds into overtime, the Avalanche won a face-off, and Makar took over. After gaining possession, Nathan MacKinnon advanced the puck and passed to Makar at the blue line. Makar maneuvered through the Stars’ defense and scored past goalie Jake Oettinger.
Makar is a strong candidate for his second Norris Trophy, currently leading NHL defensemen in points (79), goals (25), and assists (55), with Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes as his main competitors.
Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson continued his strong performance this week with one of his most impressive games this season.
Gustavsson saved all 34 shots in a 2-0 shutout against the Seattle Kraken, his fifth shutout of the season, tying him for second in the NHL.
This was Gustavsson’s second-highest shutout total in a single season in team history. According to data, he has also had 31 games with a save percentage of .900 or higher, third in the NHL behind Connor Hellebuyck and Andrei Vasilevsky.
Gustavsson has a 5-2-0 record, a 1.73 goals-against average, and a .940 save percentage this month. Besides the shutout, he also stopped 28 of 29 shots in a 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings.
If Gustavsson maintains this level of play, the Wild are likely headed to the playoffs.
