FIRST STAR - NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE
MacKinnon led the NHL in goals (t-5), assists (6) and points (11) to propel the Avalanche (35-24-6, 76 points) to a 3-0-1 week and within one point of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He posted 2-1-3, including the winning goal, in a 3-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks Feb. 26, followed by 1-1-2 in a 5-2 victory against the Calgary Flames Feb. 28. MacKinnon then registered 2-3-5, his second career five-point game (also Nov. 16, 2017 vs. WSH: 1-4-5), in a 7-1 win over the Minnesota Wild March 2. He closed the week with one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators March 4. The 22-year-old Halifax, N.S., native paces the NHL with 1.35 points per game this season, ranking fifth overall with a career-high 31-46-77 in 57 outings. That includes a League-best 7-9-16 in eight contests since returning from injury Feb. 18.
SECOND STAR - PATRIK LAINE, RW, WINNIPEG JETS
Laine recorded multiple points in all three of his appearances, ranking third in the NHL with 4-3-7 to lift the Jets (39-17-9, 87 points) to a pair of victories. He collected two assists in a 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators Feb. 27. Laine then scored twice, including the decisive goal, in a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings March 2. He capped the week with 2-1-3, his third three-point performance of the season, in a 3-2 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes March 4. The 19-year-old Tampere, Finland, native shares third place in the NHL with 35 goals in 65 contests this season (35-23-58), including a League-best 10 during an eight-game point streak dating to Feb. 16 (10-6-16). Laine's 71 career goals (in 138 GP) are the sixth-most by a teenager in League history.
THIRD STAR - ALEKSANDER BARKOV, C, FLORIDA PANTHERS
Barkov shared the League lead with five goals in four games (5-1-6) as the Panthers (32-25-6, 70 points) extended their winning streak to six contests and moved within one point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He scored once in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs Feb. 27. Barkov then registered two goals, including the winner, in a 3-2 triumph over the New Jersey Devils March 1. He added one goal in a 4-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres March 2 and 1-1-2 in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers March 4. The 22-year-old Tampere, Finland, native leads Florida and ranks 19th in the NHL with a career-high 25-39-64 in 62 contests this season, including 5-5-10 during a six-game point streak.
