Most productive player
The top spot here is shared by the pair who scored on Sunday.
Colorado defenseman Cale Makar, the NHL's most productive back, added three points against Seattle and has a total of 2+6 in four games. His 21 shot attempts were top in the competition.
Edmonton captain Connor McDavid scored one goal and assisted for seven others, with three assists against Florida and San Jose.
Goaltender of the Week
Marc-Andre Fleury moved into third place in NHL history with 1,004 starts, while Connor Hellebuyck became the fastest American to reach 20 wins in a season, only needing 26 games. Still, we have to highlight someone else this time, namely Toronto's Matt Murray, who got his first win since March 2023 against Buffalo (6-3).
Murray, only 30 years old, had an excellent start in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 for Pittsburgh, only to have concussion problems and then hip surgery. Taking care of his health came first, and his career had to take a back seat. That's why he's getting his first win in 638 days.
"It's a relief. Coming back was a big challenge for me, but I went for it," Murray told ESPN after the match.
Highlight of the week
When Finnish forward Patrik Laine was injured in preparation for the new season, there was sadness in the Montreal locker room, but perhaps no one knew what impact his return would have. The lanky goal scorer changed the atmosphere of the team with them winning six of nine games after his return to the ice, and the Finn is shining.
For example, he is currently tied for second in the NHL in power-play goals, getting eight in nine games so far this season. He scored a hat trick against Buffalo (6-1) and became the 100th three-goal scorer in the NHL in 2024. For him, it was hat-trick number 11 in his career, a tally bettered only by Jari Kurri (23) and Teemu Selanne (22) among compatriots.
"He's awfully dangerous and has an unreal shot. You can't leave him any space," Detroit's Patrick Kane said. It was the Red Wings that beat the Montreal team twice in a row, with Laine scoring one goal in each game.
Stat of the Week
Six shot attempts from one player in just three seconds? That's something you really don't see that often. And certainly not from a defensive defenseman. Still, 35-year-old back Luke Schenn of Nashville did it, but Igor Shestorkin of the New York Rangers wasn't caught off guard.
Schenn, who has only 44 career goals scored in 1,040 games, had a total of seven shots in the Rangers' 2-0 win. He needed six games before that to get the same number.
Social media highlight
Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk is a pretty sharp guy who enjoys old-school hockey. In the game against Calgary, he took a hockey stick to the face, lost one tooth and had nine stitches in his face. Still, he played calmly and even made the difference in a 3-2 overtime win. And then he entertained in a post-game interview.
"Boy, that's quite a face for the radio," he said, amusing a live TV reporter. Afterwards, he made sure to add that he was glad to have the Christmas photos done.
Photo of the week
One of the saves of the season was made by Washington's Charlie Lindgren, who stopped Carolina's Tyson Jost with a stunning slap shot to seal a 3-1 win.
"It sucks. I did what I could, I sent the puck where I wanted it to go and then he makes a save like that. Hats off to him," Jost said after the game in an interview with NHL.com. And the photographer did a perfect job as well.
