New York – – Ottawa Senators Claude GirouxToronto Maple Leafs William Nylander and the Tampa Bay Lightnings Andrei Vasilevskiy have been named the NHL’s three stars for the week ending January 29.
FIRST STAR – CLAUDE GIROUX – HF – OTTAWA SENATORS
Giroux led the NHL in scoring with seven points (4+3) and scored at least two points in all three of his games, which in turn helped the Senators (23-23-3, 49 points) to three straight victories. He had a goal and an assist in his first two games, a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers on January 25 (including his 49th career game-winning goal, as well as his third of the season) and in a 6-2 win against Toronto Maple Leafs on January 27th. Giroux then had two goals and an assist, his 65th career three-point game and third this season in a 6-2 win over the Montréal Canadiens on January 28. The 35-year-old Giroux, who has scored at least two points in three straight games for the twelfth time in his career and first since April 3-8, 2022, is averaging nearly a point per game in his first season with Ottawa, totaling 47 (19 +28) in 49 games.
Video: OTT-MTL: Giroux’s control finds its way in
OTHER STARS – WILLIAM NYLANDER – HF – TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Nylander also scored seven points (4+3) (in four games) and helped the Maple Leafs (31-12-8, 70 points) to three wins. He had two goals and two assists, all in the same period, in a 5–2 win against the New York Islanders on January 23. Nylander then scored his 400th point (in his 488th game) via an assist in a 3–2 shutout win against the New York Rangers on January 25. He finished the week scoring in both a 2–6 loss to the Ottawa Senators on January 27 and a 5–1 win over the Washington Capitals on January 29. The 26-year-old Nylander, who set career highs in goals (34), assists (46) and points (80) last season, is Toronto’s leading scorer and 14th in the league with 28+31 for 59 points in 51 games (1, 16P/match).
Video: TOR-OTT: Nylander scores on the power play
THIRD STAR – ANDREI VASILEVSKIY – MV – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Vasilevskiy stopped 96 of 102 shots, went 3-0-0, with 2.0 goals allowed per game and a 94.1 save percentage as he led the Tampa Bay Lightning (32-15-1, 65 points) to a perfect week. He picked up his 250th NHL win (in his 399th game) with 33 saves in a 4-2 win against the Minnesota Wild on January 24. He then made 37 saves in a 3–2 win against the Boston Bruins on January 26 before finishing the week with 26 saves in a 5–2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on January 28. The 28-year-old Vezina (2018-19) and Conn Smythe (2020-21) Trophy winner, who will make his fifth NHL All-Star Game this weekend, is tied for third in the league with 23 wins in 36 starts here season (23-12-1. 2.51 in GAA and 91.8 in save percentage).
