NEW YORK – Ottawa Senators left wing Tim Stützle, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 19.
FIRST STAR – TIM STÜTZLE, LW, OTTAWA SENATORS
Stützle led the NHL with 4-6—10 and two game-winning goals in four contests to power the Senators (27-24-4, 58 points) to seven out of eight possible standings points (3-0-1). He factored on Ottawa’s first six goals of the week, matching a personal high with 1-3—4 (highlighted by his second career overtime goal) in a 4-3 victory against the Calgary Flames Feb. 13 and posting 1-1—2 (as well as a shootout goal) in a 3-2 triumph over the New York Islanders Feb. 14. Stützle then added one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 17 before closing the week with 2-1—3 (including his ninth career game-winning goal and third of 2022-23) in a 7-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues Feb. 19. The 21-year-old Stützle, who is playing in his third season after being selected third overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, paces the Senators with 26 goals and sits second on the team with 59 points – both career highs – through 51 total appearances in 2022-23 (26-33—59).
SECOND STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE
MacKinnon ranked second in the NHL with 3-6—9 across four games – all multi-point efforts – to also propel the Avalanche (31-19-5, 67 points) to a 3-0-1 week. He collected 1-1—2 in each of his first two outings, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Feb. 14 and a 3-2 victory (featuring the game-winning goal) over the Minnesota Wild Feb. 15. MacKinnon then assisted on two goals in a 4-1 triumph against the St. Louis Blues Feb. 18 and registered 1-2—3 (his seventh three-point performance of the season) in a 6-5 overtime win versus the Edmonton Oilers Feb. 19. The 27-year-old MacKinnon, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2013 NHL Draft, places 14th in the League with 19-48—67 overall this season despite missing 11 contests (44 GP). His 2022-23 average of 1.52 points per game ranks second in the NHL, behind only Connor McDavid (1.79).
THIRD STAR – DYLAN LARKIN, C, DETROIT RED WINGS
Larkin recorded 4-4—8 in four appearances to guide the Red Wings (26-21-8, 60 points) to a 3‑1‑0 week. He scored twice, including his fourth game-winning goal of the season, in a 6-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks Feb. 13 before posting 1-1—2 in a 5-4 shootout win versus the Edmonton Oilers Feb. 15. Larkin then matched a career high with three assists (last achieved Feb. 12, 2022 vs. PHI) in a 5-2 victory against the Calgary Flames Feb. 16. He finished the week with one of Detroit’s two goals in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken Feb. 18. The 26-year-old Larkin, the 15th overall selection from the 2014 NHL Draft, leads the Red Wings in goals (22), assists (34) and points (56) – as well as power-play goals (11) and power-play points (21) – through 54 total games this season.
