St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, Minnesota Wild left wing Kevin Fiala and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 17.
FIRST STAR – VLADIMIR TARASENKO, RW, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Tarasenko led the NHL with seven goals and 11 points in four outings (7-4-11) to help the Blues (46-20-10, 102 points) extend their winning streak to nine games (dating to April 2) en route to clinching their 45th all-time playoff berth and 10th in the past 11 seasons. He scored twice, including his second straight game-winning goal, in a 4-2 triumph over the Boston Bruins April 12. Tarasenko then established a single-game high with 3-2-5 – highlighted by his 30th goal of the season, fifth career hat trick and third consecutive winning tally – in a 6-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres April 14. He added one goal in a 6-5 overtime win versus the Minnesota Wild April 16 before closing the week with 1-2-3, his ninth three-point performance of 2021-22, in an 8-3 triumph over the Nashville Predators April 17. The 30-year-old veteran of 10 NHL campaigns – who has collected 8-7-15 during a six-game point streak dating to April 8 – has appeared in 69 total contests this season, pacing St. Louis with 33 goals and 76 points (33 43-76) while sharing fourth place in the entire League with a career-best nine game-winning tallies.
SECOND STAR – KEVIN FIALA, LW, MINNESOTA WILD
Fiala placed second in the NHL with 5-5-10 across four games to power the Wild (47-21-7, 101 points) to a 3-0-1 week as they clinched their 12th all-time postseason berth and ninth in the last 10 campaigns. He scored twice, including his fifth game-winning goal of the season, in a 5-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers April 12. Fiala (2-1-3) then factored on all three Minnesota goals in a 3-2 overtime win versus the Dallas Stars April 14 before registering one assist in a 6-5 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues April 16. He capped the week with 1-3-4, his second career four-point game (also April 7, 2021 vs. COL: 3-1-4), in a 5-4 overtime triumph against the San Jose Sharks April 17. The 25-year-old veteran of eight NHL seasons – who has points in six straight contests dating to April 8 (6-6-12) – has established career highs in goals (29), assists (44) and points (73) while playing in 75 total games thus far in 2021-22.
THIRD STAR – MIKE SMITH, G, EDMONTON OILERS
Smith stopped all 69 shots he faced across two starts to earn a pair of shutouts and help the Oilers (44-26-6, 94 points) pick up two wins in three games. He made 30 saves in a 4-0 victory against the Nashville Predators April 14, followed by 39 stops in a 4-0 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights April 16. At 40 years and 25 days, Smith became the sixth goaltender in League history to record consecutive shutouts at age 40 or older, joining Johnny Bower (2x), Dominik Hasek (2x), Martin Brodeur, George Hainsworth and Dwayne Roloson. Smith – who is playing in his 16th NHL season and third with Edmonton – has appeared in 25 total games in 2021-22, compiling a 24-13-9 record, 2.91 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and two shutouts.
