NEW YORK (Feb. 3, 2020) – Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos and Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 2.
FIRST STAR – LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS
Draisaitl tied for the League lead with eight points (2-6—8) in three games last week as the Oilers gained five of a possible six points, improving to 28-18-6 (62 points), second in the Pacific Division. Draisaitl recorded multiple points in each game last week, starting with two assists in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames Jan. 29. On Jan. 31 against the St. Louis Blues, Draisaitl scored twice, including the game-winning goal, to spur Edmonton to a 4-2 victory and overtake teammate Connor McDavid for the League lead in points. He then extended his point streak to 11 games (7-15—22) with 0-4—4 in an 8-3 victory Feb. 1 in the second “Battle of Alberta” of the week. The 24-year-old native of Cologne, Germany leads the NHL with 29-54—83 in 52 games after becoming the fastest Oilers player to hit the 80-point mark in a season since 1989-90 (Mark Messier in 50 GP). His string of five straight multi-point games dating to Jan. 14 is the second-longest such run of his career (6 GP from March 14-23, 2017).
SECOND STAR – STEVEN STAMKOS, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Stamkos led the NHL in goals (5) and points (5-3—8; tied) across four games as the Lightning (32-15-5, 69 points) won three of four contests to strengthen their hold on second place in the Atlantic Division. On Jan. 27, Stamkos reached the 20-goal mark for the 11th time in his career, scoring both Lightning goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. He then posted his second straight multi-goal game Jan. 29, notching 2-1—3 in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Tampa Bay captain closed the week with three points in a back-to-back set in California, recording an assist on the winning goal in a 4-3 triumph Jan. 31 at Anaheim followed by 1-1—2 in a 3-0 victory Feb. 1 at San Jose. A native of Markham, Ont., Stamkos, 29, ranks tied for 13th in League scoring with 23-33—56 in 49 games this season, including 6-6—12 over an active seven-game point streak dating to Jan. 14.
THIRD STAR – J.T. MILLER, C, VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Miller tied for the second-most points in the NHL last week with 3-4—7 in four games, helping the Canucks (30-18-5, 65 points) post a 3-0-1 record to increase their lead to three points atop the Pacific Division standings. He started the week with two goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues as Vancouver extended its home winning streak to nine games. He then posted 0-2—2 in a 5-2 win against the San Jose Sharks Jan. 29 and reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time with 1-1—2 in a 4-3 overtime victory versus the New York Islanders Feb. 1. The 26-year-old closed the week with an assist on the tying goal in a 4-3 shootout loss Feb. 2 at Carolina. A native of East Palestine, Ohio, Miller is in his first season with the Canucks and ranks second on the team – and tied for 19th in the NHL – with 20-33—53 (53 GP), three goals, two assists and five points shy of matching career highs established in 2017-18 (23-35—58 in 82 GP).
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