This is THN’s Three Stars of the Week, a regular web feature in which we pick out the trio of NHL players who did the most damage in the past seven days. Let’s get to it:
3. Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators
All season long, Josi has been one of the game’s top defensemen, and this week was no different. The 33-year-old blueliner posted four goals and eight points in four games, while averaging 23:16 of ice time. Josi is going to get a significant number of votes to win the James Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top D-man, and he’s also going to make Nashville a team that could pull off an upset in Round One of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Josi currently has 23 goals – tying his best career number in that department, which he initially set in the 2021-22 campaign – but he’s far more concerned with team results.
The Swiss defenseman’s sky-high panic threshold rubs off on his Preds teammates, and Josi is hungry to enjoy the type of post-season success that’s largely eluded him in his 13 NHL seasons with Nashville. He can be a difference-maker at both ends of the ice, and help drive the Predators to a first-round upset over either the Vancouver Canucks or Dallas Stars. It’s now on him and his Preds teammates to continue to exceed expectations and get to the second round and beyond.
2. Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
The Stars have been one of the NHL’s Cup frontrunners, and while he hasn’t enjoyed a perfect season, Oettinger has come on strong of late and was the top goaltender in the league this past week, posting a 3-1-0 record, 2.26 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. The Stars have one of the most balanced, dangerous squads in the sport, but like every other team, they need their netminder to at least give them a chance to win night-in and night-out. Oettinger wasn’t doing that early in the year, but he’s rounding into top form, at the right time of the season.
At 25 years old, Oettinger isn’t yet in his prime, and to be sure, His individual totals this year (2.76 G.A.A., .904 SP) aren’t good in comparison to his career numbers (2.51 G.A.A., .913 SP), but when the Stars take on either Vegas or L.A. in Round One, Oettinger could steal a game or two and help push Dallas to at least the Western Conference Final. He’s looking sharp and motivated to improve on last season’s results, and nobody should overlook him when judging playoff impact players.
1. Lucas Raymond, LW, Detroit Red Wings
One of the reasons the Red Wings are still in the hunt for a wild card playoff berth is the play of Swedish winger Raymond. The 22-year-old posted four goals – all at even-strength – and eight points in four games this week, giving him 29 goals, 40 assists and 69 points in 80 games this year, all of which are career-best numbers.
Raymond will be an RFA at season’s end, and his performance this year means he’s in line for a massive raise on the $925,000 he’s earning this season. The Wings may not make it into the playoffs this spring, but with Raymond on board, they’ve got a key building block in place for the foreseeable future. And Raymond’s peak is still to come, so the 30-goal-plateau seems very much attainable for him. He’s a driver of offense and a needle-mover overall, and from this point on, it’s all about consistency for him.
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News Summary:
- NHL Three Stars: Predators' Josi, Stars' Oettinger and Red Wings' Raymond Close Out on Top
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.