NHL NEWS FEBRUARY 6, 2023 – Tkachuk, Larkin and Marner Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 5, 2023.

FIRST STAR – MATTHEW TKACHUK, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Representing the hometown Panthers (24-22-6, 54 points), Tkachuk compiled 4-3—7 in two games to capture MVP honors and power the Atlantic Division to a championship at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game, held Feb. 4 at FLA Live Arena. Tkachuk, who registered 3-2—5 in a 10-6 victory over the Metropolitan Division in the semifinals and 1-1—2 in a 7-5 win against the Central Division in the final, became the 10th NHL player to claim All-Star Game MVP in his home venue – and first since Ryan Johansen in 2015 (w/ CBJ). The Scottsdale, Ariz., native also became the fourth U.S.-born player to win the award, following Mike Richter (1994), Bill Guerin (2001) and Brock Boeser (2018). Tkachuk’s five points in the semifinals matched a single-game record under the 3-on-3 All-Star Game format (since 2016), also achieved by Metropolitan Division teammates Mathew Barzal (2-3—5) and Sidney Crosby (2-3—5) in the 2019 final. Tkachuk’s seven total points on the day tied for the second-most in one 3-on-3 tournament, behind only Crosby’s 2019 performance (4-4—8 in 2 GP). The 25-year-old Tkachuk, who also was featured in two events (the Enterprise NHL Discover Splash Shot and Great Clips NHL Breakaway Challenge) during Friday’s 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook, tops Florida with 25-41—66 in 49 total contests this season – his first with the Panthers. He also ranks among the League leaders in assists (t-6th; 41), points (7th; 66), power-play points (t-9th; 24) and shots on goal (13th; 187).

SECOND STAR – DYLAN LARKIN, C, DETROIT RED WINGS

Larkin, who paces the Red Wings (21-19-8, 50 points) with 15-28—43 in 47 appearances this season, notched 5-1—6 across two games to aide in the Atlantic Division’s championship at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game. His five goals matched a single-tournament record, first achieved by Tomas Hertl in 2020 with the Pacific Division (5-0—5 in 2 GP). The 26-year-old Larkin, who also participated in the Upper Deck NHL Fastest Skater during the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook, posted 2-1—3 in the Atlantic Division’s 10-6 win in the semifinals and 3-0—3 (including the decisive goal) in the team’s 7-5 championship-clinching victory. He now has 5-4—9 in three career All-Star Game tournaments (5 GP).

THIRD STAR – MITCHELL MARNER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Marner set a single-tournament record with six assists (0-6—6) in the Atlantic Division’s two games en route to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game championship. He collected three helpers in each contest, factoring on one of Tkachuk’s goals in the semifinals and two of Larkin’s in the final. Marner, who also was featured in Friday’s Great Clips NHL Breakaway Challenge, added one goal for the Maple Leafs (31-13-8, 70 points) in their 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins earlier in the week (Feb. 1). The 25-year-old Marner has played in 52 total games with Toronto this season, placing among the League leaders in assists (t-6th; 41), power-play assists (t-6th; 19), power-play points (t-7th; 25) and points (14th; 60).

WHERE WE STAND: THE RACE TO THE 2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

The NHL’s 2022-23 regular season resumes following a pause from Feb. 2-5 for the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, with a shift in focus toward the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Four teams currently hold a playoff position after failing to do so in 2022 (NJD, WPG, VGK & SEA).

• The Bruins (39-7-5, 83 points), who occupy first place in the League standings, will look to claim the fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history (2020, 2014 & 1990). Boston has held top spot in the NHL standings for 95 days this season and can establish the sixth instance in NHL history of a club holding the No. 1 position for at least 162 days should they remain in first through the duration of 2022-23.
• Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division, the Sabres (26-20-4, 56 points) – a club looking for their first playoff berth since 2010-11 – and Panthers (24-22-6, 54 points) currently sit one and three points behind the Penguins for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot, respectively. Two teams who would potentially face Boston in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
• While the Hurricanes (34-9-8, 76 points) have held a share of the Metropolitan Division lead since Dec. 20, 2022, the Devils (32-13-4, 68 points) and Rangers (27-14-8, 62 points) – both in action Monday – currently hold second and third place, respectively. The two clubs, who are trending towards their first Stanley Cup Playoffs meeting in over a decade, both aim to earn a win in their 50th game of 2022-23, with New Jersey looking to record its second-most victories through as many contests in a season in franchise history behind only 2009-10 (34).
• The Islanders (25-22-5, 55 points), who are engaged in a close race for a Wild Card position, will also take to the ice when they visit the Flyers (21-21-9, 51 points); New York was 17 points outside of the playoff picture at this time last season.
• The first and second slot in the Central Division includes teams separated by just one point, with Dallas (28-13-10, 66 points) and Winnipeg (32-19-1, 65 points) also occupying the first two seeds in the Western Conference. The Stars can finish atop their division for the first time since 2015-16 and should they conclude the campaign in the conference’s first-place seed it would mark the first time since 2002-03. Meanwhile, the Jets have yet to conclude a season No. 1 in the division since the club re-located to Winnipeg – last achieving the feat in 2006-07 in Atlanta – and is in pursuit of their first-ever conference title.
• Two of the top three teams in the Pacific Division failed to participate in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, highlighted by the top-seeded Kraken (29-15-5, 63 points) who hold four games in hand over the second-place Kings (28-18-7, 63 points). Seattle, which has already surpassed its point total from 2021-22, can become the fourth expansion team since 1967-68 to win a division title within its first two seasons, joining the 2017-18 Golden Knights (Pacific Division), 1967-68 Flyers (West Division) and 1968-69 Blues (West Division). Of note, Philadelphia and St. Louis were part of the NHL’s all-expansion division from 1967-68 to 1973-74.
• The Western Conference features a tightly contested Wild Card race separated by six points and includes two teams from each division. Calgary will have the opportunity to move back into the Second Wild Card position for the first time since Jan. 27 when the Flames kick off a four-game road swing at Madison Square Garden.

HUGHES BROTHERS READY HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETING AS SCHEDULE RESUMES

Jack Hughes (33-31—64 in 49 GP) and the Devils (32-13-4, 68 points) welcome Quinn Hughes (5-40—45 in 45 GP) and the Canucks (20-26-3, 43 points) to Prudential Center as the NHL’s regular-season schedule resumes following All-Star Weekend.

• Jack enters his 50th game of the 2022-23 season on an eight-game point streak – a stretch that also includes multiple points in each of his past four contests dating to Jan. 22 (4-4—8 in 4 GP). Hughes, tied for the most goals (13) and points (23) among all players since Jan. 1, can become the third player in franchise history with five consecutive multi-point outings joining Scott Gomez (5 GP in 2005-06) and Kirk Muller (5 GP in 1987-88).
• Quinn sits tied for the fourth-most points among all defensemen since Jan. 1 (4-11—15 in 13 GP), thanks in part to five multi-point games and two outings with two or more assists. He sits one multi-assist performance shy of second double-digit total in a single season (also 11 in 2021-22) and five away from the most by a Canucks defenseman in a single campaign.

BENN SET TO CELEBRATE 1,000TH CAREER GAME

Stars captain Jamie Benn (348-465—813 in 999 GP) is expected to skate in his 1,000th career game when his Central Division-leading Stars (28-13-10, 66 points) host the Ducks (16-29-5, 37 points) at American Airlines Center.

• Benn (19-25—44 in 51 GP), who has already passed his 82-game goal total from 2021-22 (18-28—46) and sits one tally away from his 10th 20-goal campaign with Stars, is set to join a franchise icon with his milestone contest.