NEW YORK (Nov. 5, 2018) Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan, Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson and Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point have been named the NHLs Three Stars for the week ending Nov. 4.
FIRST STAR SEAN MONAHAN, C, CALGARY FLAMES
Monahan registered four straight multi-point performances, leading the NHL with 4-48 to propel the Flames (9-5-1, 19 points) to a perfect week and into first place in the Pacific Division. He collected 1-12 in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 29, lifting Calgary to its first win in Toronto since Jan. 15, 2011. Monahan then recorded assists on both the tying goal in the final minute of regulation and the overtime winner in a 2-1 triumph against the Buffalo Sabres Oct. 30. He added 1-12 in a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 1 before capping the week with two goals his 15th career multi-goal performance in a 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks Nov. 3. The 24-year-old Brampton, Ont., native who ranks second on the Flames with 8-1018 this season (15 GP) paces Calgary with 146 goals and sits second on the team with 299 points since making his League debut in 2013-14 (408 GP).
SECOND STAR ELIAS PETTERSSON, C, VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Pettersson shared the League lead with four goals and ranked third overall with seven points in three games to also power the Canucks (9-6-0, 18 points) to a perfect week. He scored twice, including his first career game-winning goal, in a 5-2 triumph over the Minnesota Wild Oct. 29. After being held off the scoresheet in a 4-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 31, Pettersson rebounded with five points (3-25) including the tying goal with 35.9 seconds remaining in regulation and the primary assist on the overtime winner in a 7-6 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 2. At 19 years, 355 days, Pettersson became the youngest player in Vancouver history to record a five-point game as well as the first rookie in franchise history to achieve the feat. The Sundsvall, Sweden, native who tops all rookies in goals and points this season (9-615 in 9 GP) is one of just 16 players in NHL history with at least nine goals through his first nine career games.
THIRD STAR BRAYDEN POINT, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Point led the NHL with six assists and ranked second overall with eight points to lift the Lightning (10-3-1, 21 points) to three wins in four contests and into first place in the Atlantic Division. He collected 1-45 in an 8-3 victory against the New Jersey Devils Oct. 30. At 22 years, 231 days, Point became the youngest player in Tampa Bay history to record a five-point game. After being held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators Nov. 1, Point bounced back with one assist in 4-1 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens Nov. 3. He closed the week by scoring the tying goal with 26.4 seconds remaining in regulation and then assisting on the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory against the Ottawa Senators Nov. 4. The Calgary native paces the Lightning with eight goals and 17 points through 14 games this season.
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I am glad Monahan is getting some recognition. Compared to his peers he is one of the true snipers in the league. For active players who have played fewer than 500 games Monahan is 4th in the NHL for goals. The list goes.
I am happy he got rewarded offensively last week - because IMO it was on the back of a much improved defensive game and commitment to 200 ft play.
He had a pretty bad stretch there for a couple games where he seemed kind of lost in his 200ft game, and in the defensive zone. It was so bad that I actually think the questions around his ability to be a top line center on a great team was fairly being questioned.
But along with Gaudreau I feel like they have both really committed to playing a strong 200ft game after the loss against Pittsburgh and they have been rewarded in the offensive zone with that extra effort as well.
Really hope they keep up the focus on their 200ft game because the harder they work away from the puck, the more they will have the puck, and right now that line is deadly when they have the puck.
Just a proxy - in the 11 games up to the Penguins debacle Monahan/Gaudreau had been averaging 13 HDCF per 60 minutes and 19 HDCA - and had been on the ice for at least 1 goal against per game on average.
In the five game since that game they have been able to generate more offensive chances (up to 17 HDCF per 60), and have cleaned up their defensive zone play (HDCA down to 12).
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 11-05-2018 at 11:16 AM.
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Sean Monahan named NHL first star of the week
