NEW YORK – New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard and Vancouver Canucks left wing Paul Cotter have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO for the week ending Oct. 4.
FIRST STAR – IGOR SHESTERKIN, G, NEW YORK RANGERS
Shesterkin went 2-1-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in three appearances; ranked second in the League in saves (71) and third in shots against (76); and became the 18th different goaltender in NHL history to score a goal in the regular season while helping the Rangers (3-1-0, 6 points) finish the opening week of the campaign atop the League standings. Shesterkin began 2026-27 by stopping each of the first 19 shots he faced, making a total of 20 saves, in a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins Sept. 29. He then denied 23 of 24 shots while scoring the first goal by a netminder in Rangers history during a 5-1 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning Oct. 1. Shesterkin added 28 stops, as well as his fourth career assist, in a 4-2 victory against the Utah Mammoth Oct. 4. The 30-year-old Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2021-22, owns a 189-108-28 record with a 2.51 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and 22 shutouts in 328 career NHL games (all w/ NYR) since being selected by New York in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
SECOND STAR – EVAN BOUCHARD, D, EDMONTON OILERS
Bouchard led defensemen and placed second in the entire League with 4-4—8 in three outings to propel the Oilers (2-0-1, 5 points) to five out of six possible standings points. He opened the campaign with 3-2—5 in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks Sept. 29, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a season opener as well as the third blueliner to register a hat trick in such a game (also Mark Howe in 1980-81 w/ HFDand Bert Corbeau in 1919-20 w/ MTL). Bouchard then posted 1-2—3 in a 9-7 win against the Canucks Oct. 1 to become the first defenseman in League history with at least eight points through his team’s first two contests of a season. The 26-year-old Bouchard, who closed the week with 27:01 and a +1 rating in a 3-1 triumph over the Seattle Kraken Oct. 3, has compiled 80-261—341 through 432 career NHL games – highlighted by career highs in goals (21), assists (74) and points (95) last season (82 GP).
THIRD STAR – PAUL COTTER, LW, VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Cotter, who signed with Vancouver as a free agent during the offseason, shared the League lead with four goals in as many games (4-2—6) to guide the Canucks (2-2-0, 4 points) to a pair of wins. Cotter scored twice, including his first career shorthanded goal and second career overtime winner, in a 6-5 decision against the Edmonton Oilers Sept. 29. He became the sixth player in franchise history to record multiple goals in his Vancouver debut, a feat last achieved by Elias Lindholm in 2023-24, as well as the first player in team history to collect either a shorthanded goal or an overtime goal in his Canucks debut. Cotter followed that with 1-1—2 in a 9-7 loss to the Oilers Oct. 1 before posting one assist in a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames Oct. 3 and one goal in a 3-2 setback against the Vegas Golden Knights Oct. 4. The 26-year-old Cotter has registered 51-37—88 through 300 career NHL games with the Canucks, New Jersey Devils and Golden Knights.
