NHL Three Stars Of Week

Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen, Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson and Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 25.

 

FIRST STAR – RYAN JOHANSEN, C, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

 

Capping a weekend that celebrated the sport and the fans, Johansen was named the MVP – via Twitter vote – of the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game. The 22-year-old Vancouver, B.C., native led Team Foligno (captained by Blue Jackets linemate Nick Foligno) with 2-2—4, including a pair of goals in the opening period, in a 17-12 loss to Team Toews Jan. 25. He also was the top pick in the 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft presented by DraftKings Jan. 23 and the winner of the Honda NHL Breakaway Challenge Jan. 24. The Blue Jackets’ leading scorer in 2014-15, Johansen was held without a point in each of team’s two outings earlier in the week – a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild Jan. 19 and a 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Jan. 21. That snapped his point streak at 13 games (8-8—16), a franchise record, career high and the longest in the NHL this season. Johansen paces the Blue Jackets (20-22-3, 43 points) with 26 assists and 43 points in 45 outings in 2014-15. He also is the only player in the NHL with two point streaks of at least 10 games this season (also Oct. 9-31: 5-8—13 in 10 GP).

 

SECOND STAR – ERIK KARLSSON, D, OTTAWA SENATORS

 

            Karlsson tied for first among all players with three goals/points in two contests, helping the Senators (19-18-9, 47 points) pick up three out of a possible four standings points. He scored his ninth goal of the season in a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers Jan. 20. Karlsson then found the back of the net twice, including the game-winning tally, in a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 21. It marked Karlsson’s seventh career multi-goal game and first since Nov. 5, 2013 (2-0—2 at CBJ). Since entering the NHL in 2009-10, only Shea Weber (9) and Mike Green (8) have more multi-goal performances among defensemen. A 24-year-old Landsbro, Sweden, native, Karlsson shares first on the Senators with 11-22—33 in 46 appearances this season. His 33 points also rank sixth among all defensemen in 2014-15.

 

THIRD STAR – ZACH PARISE, LW, MINNESOTA WILD

 

            Parise also tied for first among all skaters with three goals/points in two outings for the Wild (20-20-6, 46 points). He notched his 17th goal of the season in a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets Jan. 19. Parise then recorded two markers, helping the Wild rally from a three-goal, third-period deficit in an eventual 5-4 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings Jan. 20. The 30-year-old Minneapolis, Minn., native has found the back of the net in four consecutive games (5-1—6), his longest scoring streak since Jan. 31 – Feb. 5, 2012 (5-1—6 in 4 GP). Parise leads the Wild with 19 goals in 39 contests this season and also ranks second on the club with 36 points despite missing seven games.

(NHL Media)