January 1, 2023

FIRST STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Ovechkin tied for second in the NHL with 13 tallies in 15 games (13-9—22), highlighted by his 801st and 802nd career goals on Dec. 23 vs. WPG to overtake Gordie Howe for second place in League history, as the Capitals (21-13-5, 47 points) posted an 11-2-2 month to move into third in the Metropolitan Division standings. Ovechkin, who also ranked second in shots on goal (71), third in points (22) and tied for third in plus/minus (+12) during December, collected points in 11 of his 15 appearances. That included seven games with goals as well as seven multi-point outings, highlighted by a pair of hat tricks: Dec. 13 at CHI (3-1—4) and Dec. 31 vs. MTL (3-0—3). The first hat trick was capped by Ovechkin’s 800th career goal as well as his 20th of the season, the 18th consecutive campaign he has reached the plateau. The latter performance marked Ovechkin’s 30th career hat trick, making him the sixth player in NHL history to achieve the milestone. The 37-year-old Ovechkin, a nine-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner, now has 806 career goals (1,313 GP) – 88 back of Wayne Gretzky (894 G in 1,487 GP) for the most in League history. He also has compiled 26-19—45 in 39 total games this season, placing among the top performers in shots on goal (3rd; 169), goals (t-3rd) and points (8th).

SECOND STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led the League in goals (14), assists (t-17), points (31), power-play assists (t-12) and power-play points (18) across 15 contests (14-17—31) to propel the Oilers (20-16-2, 42 points) to a 7-6-2 December. He became the first NHL player with 30 or more points in a calendar month since Tampa Bay Lightning teammates Steven Stamkos (12-21—33 in 16 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (14-17—31 in 16 GP) both achieved the feat in April 2022. McDavid also became the third player in Edmonton history to record a 30-point month, following Wayne Gretzky (30x) and Jari Kurri (2x), and the first to do so since Gretzky in March 1988 (5-33—38 in 14 GP). McDavid, who found the scoresheet in all but his final outing of December, posted eight multi-point performances during the month, including his eighth career five-point effort (Dec. 30 at SEA: 1-4—5) as well as a trio of four-point games: Dec. 3 vs. MTL (2-2—4), Dec. 7 vs. ARI (2-2—4) and Dec. 13 at NSH (1-3—4). The 25-year-old McDavid, who became the fastest NHL player in 27 years to reach the 70-point milestone, currently paces the League in goals (32), assists (t-40), points (72), power-play goals (14), power-play assists (23) and power-play points (37) through 38 total appearances this season.

THIRD STAR – TAGE THOMPSON, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Thompson ranked second in the NHL with 13-9—22 in 11 games to lift the Sabres (18-14-2, 38 points) within six points of a playoff spot via an 8-2-1 December. He registered points in nine of his 11 outings (and goals in eight of those contests), highlighted by 5-1—6 (including 4-1—5 in the first period) Dec. 7 at CBJ. In doing so, Thompson matched the NHL record for goals in one period, set franchise marks for goals and points in any period, and tied the Buffalo record for goals in a game. He posted five other multi-point performances, including three-point efforts Dec. 1 vs. COL (1-2—3), Dec. 13 vs. LAK (2‑1—3) and Dec. 17 at ARI (1-2—3); scored the winning goal three times (Dec. 7 at CBJ, Dec. 13 vs. LAK and Dec. 17 at ARI); and potted a League-high seven power-play goals. The 25-year-old Thompson has played in 34 total games this season, sitting among the League leaders in goals (2nd; 27), power-play goals (3rd; 12), points (5th; 51), power-play points (t-5th; 22) and shots on goal (8th; 151).