Igor Shesterkin earns NHL first star of the week after historic start

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been named the NHL’s first star of the week after a standout opening to the season that saw him contribute at both ends of the ice. The league announced the weekly honours on Monday, highlighting Shesterkin’s rare blend of dominant goaltending and unexpected offence.

Shesterkin posted a 2-1 record with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage over the first week. He also made history on Thursday night, scoring the first goal of his NHL career and the first goalie goal in Rangers franchise history in a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He added an assist in Sunday’s 4-2 victory against the Utah Mammoth, giving him three points in as many games to start the year.

Bouchard drives Oilers’ offence from the blue line

The second star of the week went to Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard, who piled up points in a pair of offence-heavy games against the Vancouver Canucks. Bouchard finished the opening week with four goals and four assists, totalling eight points in his first two games of the season.

In the season opener, a 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver, Bouchard delivered a career performance with his second NHL hat trick and five points overall. That outing stands as the most points ever recorded by a defenceman on opening night, underscoring the impact he had on Edmonton’s attack despite the result.

Cotter makes immediate impression with Canucks

Vancouver Canucks forward Paul Cotter claimed the third star after a productive debut week with his new team. Signed as a free agent in the off-season, the 26-year-old finished with four goals and two assists across four games.

Cotter picked up at least one point in each of Vancouver’s first four contests and scored the overtime winner against Edmonton on opening night. His quick chemistry and timely scoring helped anchor the Canucks’ early offence and secured him a place alongside Shesterkin and Bouchard among the NHL’s three stars of the week.