FIRST STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov, who will be making his fifth career NHL All-Star Game appearance this weekend in Toronto, paced the League with 4-5—9 and a +7 rating (tied) in three contests to lift the Lightning (27‑18‑5, 59 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Atlantic Division. He registered 3-1—4, his fifth career hat trick and 25th career four-point performance, in a 6-3 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers Jan. 23. Kucherov then posted 1-2—3, his 13th outing with at least three points in 2023-24, in a 6‑3 win against the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 25. He finished the week with a pair of assists in a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils Jan. 27, his 26th multi-point effort through 49 total games this season (53.1%). The 30-year-old Kucherov, who won the Art Ross Trophy in 2018-19, currently tops the NHL with 32-53—85 in 2023-24 (one point more than Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon: 31‑53—84 in 49 GP). Kucherov also ranks among this season’s leaders in power-play assists (1st; 26), power-play points (1st; 37), assists (t-1st; 53), shots on goal (3rd; 210), goals (4th; 32) and power-play goals (t-4th; 11).

SECOND STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid, who will captain one of this weekend’s four All-Star teams, collected 4-4—8 in three appearances to power the Oilers (29-15-1, 59 points) to their 16th straight victory dating to Dec. 21 – one shy of the longest winning streak in NHL history. He scored once in a 4-1 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets Jan. 23. McDavid then factored on each of Edmonton’s next seven goals to close the week, recording 2-1—3 (including his 66th career game-winning goal) in a 3-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 25 and 1-3—4 (his 36th career four-point performance) in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators Jan. 27. The 27-year-old McDavid, who has found the scoresheet in 15 of the Oilers’ 16 contests during their current winning streak (9-17—26), sits fifth in the League with 20-47—67 overall this season (43 GP). The reigning Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner also places among the 2023-24 leaders in assists (4th; 47), power-play assists (t-6th; 20) and power-play points (t-9th; 25).

THIRD STAR – MATTHEW TKACHUK, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Tkachuk compiled 4-4—8 in four contests to also propel the Panthers (31-14-4, 66 points) to a perfect week. He produced multiple points in each of his first two games, tallying 1-1—2 in 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators Jan. 22 and 2-1—3 (his fourth three-point performance of the season) in a 6‑2 triumph against the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 24. Tkachuk then picked up one assist in a 3-2 shootout win versus the Pittsburgh Penguins Jan. 26 before closing the week with 1-1—2 in a 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Islanders Jan. 27. The 26-year-old Tkachuk, who has points in each of his last five outings dating to Jan. 19 (4-5—9), ranks second on Florida and 21st in the entire League with 16-35—51 through 49 total appearances in 2023-24.