FIRST STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon, who scored a trio of game-winning goals, shared the League lead in goals (5) and points (10) across four contests to lift Colorado (49-24-6, 104 points) into first place in the Central Division on the strength of a perfect week. He became the seventh player in Avalanche/Nordiques history, and first since Joe Sakic in 2006-07, to reach the 100-point milestone when he posted 2-1—3 (capped by his franchise-record 10th career overtime goal) in a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks April 4. MacKinnon then registered his 15th career four-point performance (and fourth of the season) with 1-3—4, including the decisive goal, in a 6-2 triumph against the Sharks April 6. He was held off the scoresheet in a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings April 8, but bounced back with 2-1—3 (and another overtime/game-winning goal) in a 5-4 triumph versus the Anaheim Ducks April 9. The 27-year-old MacKinnon has scored the game-winning goal in five of Colorado’s last seven contests dating to March 27; only two other players in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) have accounted for at least five game-winning goals over a span of seven team games: Michel Goulet (5 GWG w/ QUE in 1983-84) and Patrik Elias (5 GWG w/ NJD in 1997-98). MacKinnon, who has played in 68 of the Avalanche’s 79 total contests this season, ranks among the 2022-23 League leaders in shots on goal (2nd; 350), points per game (3rd; 1.57), assists (t-5th; 68), points (6th; 107) and game-winning goals (t-10th; 8).

SECOND STAR – JORDAN EBERLE, RW, SEATTLE KRAKEN

Eberle collected 4-4—8, highlighted by a pair of game-winning goals, in four outings to propel the Kraken (45-26-8, 98 points) to a perfect week as they clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history. He scored once in an 8-1 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes April 3. Eberle then recorded the decisive goal in each of Seattle’s next two contests, tallying 1-1—2 in a 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks April 4 and 1-2—3 in a 4-2 victory over the Coyotes April 6. He finished the week with 1-1—2, reaching the 20-goal milestone for the eighth time in his 13-season NHL career (and second time in as many years with the Kraken), in a 7-3 triumph versus the Chicago Blackhawks April 8. The 32-year-old Eberle has skated in 79 total contests this season, placing among Seattle’s top performers in game-winning goals (t‑1st; 4), assists (2nd; 43), points (3rd; 63) and goals (t-4th; 20).

THIRD STAR – ALEX LYON, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Lyon stopped 117 of the 122 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .959 save percentage to help the Panthers (42-31-7, 91 points) move into the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. He turned aside 39 of 40 attempts, including all 26 he faced after the first period, in a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres April 4. Lyon then made a career-high 56 saves, one shy of the franchise record, in a 7-2 triumph over the Ottawa Senators April 6. He finished the week with 22 stops in a 4-2 victory against the Washington Capitals April 8 to extend both his and the team’s winning streak to six games dating to March 29 (1.50 GAA, .956 SV%, 1 SO). The 30-year-old Lyon, who signed with Florida during the offseason, owns a 9-3-1 record in 13 total contests this season (2.88 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO) and 16-10-4 record in 37 career NHL games (3.06 GAA, .904 SV%, 1 SO).