Who are the three stars of the fourth week of NHL action?
It’s hard to believe that we are nearing the one month mark of the 2014-15 NHL season. November is an important month for NHL teams, as Thanksgiving is often regarded as the check-point where you can make accurate assessments as to which teams are legitimate contenders, and who simply got off to a hot start.
However, since this is a three stars of the week post, we are more concerned with the performances of individual players over the last week of play.
This is the fourth edition of the Three Stars of the Week and we will recognize three players who had outstanding performances during the NHL’s third week of regular season action. Check back every Sunday for a new list of three stars for the previous week’s play.
No. 1 Star: Scott Darling
For one week Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling was the biggest story in hockey. Darling grew up a Blackhawks fan in Lemont, Illinois and got his start in the Southern Professional Hockey League. When Darling was called up to start in place of an injured Corey Crawford on Monday, he became the first player from the SPHL to play in the NHL.
In his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators, Darling made 32 saves, including 16 in the third period, in a 2-1 win. Darling followed that up with a 25 save, 1-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Darling faced the Senators again in his third and final start, before being sent back down to the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, in which the Blackhawks won 5-4. Darling posted a 2-1-0 record in three starts, with a .933 save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average.
No. 2 Star: Marian Hossa
Marian Hossa became the 80th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000 point milestone. Hossa entered Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators with 998 points. He earned number 999 with an assist on a Jonathan Toews goal. The big 1,000th point came with 6:10 left in the third period on Hossa’s second goal of the 2014-15 season. Hossa started his career with the Ottawa Senators, so it is fitting that he reached such an important milestone in the same building where his career in the NHL began.
No. 3 Star: Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko currently leads the St. Louis Blues with 11 points (6 goals and 5 assists). Three of those six goals came against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night, including the overtime game-winner. The hat-trick was the first of his career. Tarasenko also had an assist in the game. While the Anaheim Ducks were able to shut Tarasenko and the rest of the Blues offense down, he stormed back with two goals in a 3-2 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche last night.
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