Kopitar, Ovechkin and Stamkos are the stars of the week
NEW YORK – Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, Washington Capitals left winger Alex ovechkin and Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven stamkos are the three stars for the week ending Oct. 17 in the NHL.
FIRST STAR – ANZE KOPITAR, C, KINGS OF LOS ANGELES
Kopitar had seven points (four goals, three assists) in two games last week, which helped the Kings post a record of one win and one loss. He opened the season Thursday with a three-goal night to tie his personal best game with five points as the Kings defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2. He set a franchise record for most points by a Kings player in the season opener, and he was only the third player in Kings history to score a hat trick in the first part of the calendar, thus joining Luc Robitaille (October 6, 1988) and Jarri Kurri (October 4, 1991).
Hailing from Jesenice, Slovenia, Kopitar finished last season on top of the Kings’ scorers with 50 points in 56 games. He ranks among the best in franchise history for games (2nd, 1131), goals (4th, 350), assists (3rd, 657), points (4th, 1007) and winning goals ( 3rd, 57).
Video: VGK @ LAK: Kopitar scores hat-trick against Vegas
SECOND STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, AG, WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Ovechkin had three goals and two assists in two games to help the Capitals collect three points out of a possible four in the first week of the calendar (1-0-1). The Washington captain began his 17th NHL season with two goals and two assists in a 5-1 win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday. It was his 731st and 732nd career goals, which put him ahead of Marcel Dionne (731) for fifth place in NHL history. Ovechkin also brought his harvest to 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 17 career opener. He also ranks first in history for goals among players active in such circumstances. He also became the fourth player in history to score 150 more than one goal games after Wayne Gretzky (189), Brett Hull (158) and Mario Lemieux (154). Ovechkin added a goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Lightning on Saturday.
Video: NYR @ WSH: Ovechkin takes 5th place on his own
THIRD STAR – STEVEN STAMKOS, C, LIGHTNING BY TAMPA BAY
Stamkos tied Kopitar’s seven-point production in three games (three goals, four assists), to help the Lightning begin their Stanley Cup title defense with a 2-1-0 record. The Tampa Bay captain kicked off his 14th NHL season with two assists on his own two goals in a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, before going on with two goals and one assist in a win. 7-6 in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Stamkos ended his work week scoring the winning goal in overtime and adding an assist in a 2-1 win over the Capitals on Saturday. Stamkos’ next point will be his 874th, and will allow him to join Vincent Lecavalier (383 goals, 491 assists) as the second-largest scorer in Lightning history.
Video: TBL @ WSH: Stamkos gives victory to the Lightning
