FIRST STAR - AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Matthews collected multiple points in all four of his outings, topping the League in goals (7), points (11), game-winning goals (t-2) and shots on goal (33) to help the Maple Leafs (47-19-6, 100 points) clinch their sixth consecutive playoff berth via a 3-0-1 week. He posted 3-1-4, highlighted by his fourth hat trick and eighth game-winning goal of the season, in a 6-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning April 4. Matthews then registered his seventh career three-assist performance - and second of 2021-22 (also Feb. 26 at DET: 1-3-4) - in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers April 5. Playing in his 400th NHL game, the San Ramon, Calif., native scored twice - including his ninth career overtime winner - in a 4-3 triumph over the Dallas Stars April 7 to
break Rick Vaive's franchise record for goals in a season
as well as
surpass Jimmy Carson and Kevin Stevens for the most goals by a U.S.-born player in a single campaign
. Matthews added two more goals in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens April 9, making him the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (w/ PIT) to score 50 or more goals within a span of 50 personal games. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft - who has points in each of his last 16 appearances dating to March 5 (21-10-31) - has skated in 67 total contests this season, leading the League with 58 goals (eight more than the next-closest player) while also ranking among the top performers in shots on goal (1st; 320), points (4th; 99), power-play goals (t-4th; 15) and game-winning goals (t-4th; 9).
SECOND STAR - JOHN CARLSON, D, WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Carlson paced defensemen and ranked third in the entire NHL with 3-5-8 in three contests to propel the Capitals (40-22-10, 90 points) - who hold the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference - to a perfect week. He recorded his third career four-point performance (2-2-4), including his 27th career game-winning goal, in a 4-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning April 6. Carlson then assisted on two of four unanswered Washington goals in a 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins April 9. He closed the week with 1-1-2, his 15th multi-point outing of the season, in a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins April 10. The 32-year-old veteran of 13 NHL seasons has played in 68 total games in 2021-22, placing among the top defensemen in goals (5th; 14), assists (t-6th; 49) and points (5th; 63) as well as power-play goals (t-3rd; 6) and power-play points (6th; 22).
THIRD STAR - JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS
Huberdeau notched 3-4-7 and a +7 rating in three appearances as the Panthers (51-15-6, 108 points) stretched their cushion atop the Eastern Conference to six points via a perfect week. He registered his fifth career five-point outing (2-3-5), including the overtime winner, to become
the first player in franchise history to record a 100-point season
as Florida rallied from a four-goal deficit for a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs April 5. Huberdeau then collected one assist as the Panthers again overcame a multi-goal deficit, this time for a 4-3 triumph against the Buffalo Sabres April 8, before adding one goal in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators April 9. The 2012-13 Calder Memorial Trophy winner has skated in 72 total contests this season, ranking among the League leaders in assists (1st; 77), points (2nd; 104), power-play assists (4th; 28), power-play points (7th; 33) and plus/minus (t-10th; +34).
