Matthews leads 3 Stars of the Week

NEW YORK - Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson and Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending April 10.

FIRST STAR - AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews collected multiple points in all four of his outings, topping the League in goals (7), points (11), game-winning goals (t-2) and shots on goal (33) to help the Maple Leafs (47-19-6, 100 points) clinch their sixth consecutive playoff berth via a 3-0-1 week. He posted 3-1-4, highlighted by his fourth hat trick and eighth game-winning goal of the season, in a 6-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning April 4. Matthews then registered his seventh career three-assist performance - and second of 2021-22 (also Feb. 26 at DET: 1-3-4) - in a 7-6 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers April 5. Playing in his 400th NHL game, the San Ramon, Calif., native scored twice - including his ninth career overtime winner - in a 4-3 triumph over the Dallas Stars April 7 to
break Rick Vaive's franchise record for goals in a season
as well as
surpass Jimmy Carson and Kevin Stevens for the most goals by a U.S.-born player in a single campaign
. Matthews added two more goals in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens April 9, making him the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (w/ PIT) to score 50 or more goals within a span of 50 personal games. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft - who has points in each of his last 16 appearances dating to March 5 (21-10-31) - has skated in 67 total contests this season, leading the League with 58 goals (eight more than the next-closest player) while also ranking among the top performers in shots on goal (1st; 320), points (4th; 99), power-play goals (t-4th; 15) and game-winning goals (t-4th; 9).

SECOND STAR - JOHN CARLSON, D, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Carlson paced defensemen and ranked third in the entire NHL with 3-5-8 in three contests to propel the Capitals (40-22-10, 90 points) - who hold the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference - to a perfect week. He recorded his third career four-point performance (2-2-4), including his 27th career game-winning goal, in a 4-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning April 6. Carlson then assisted on two of four unanswered Washington goals in a 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins April 9. He closed the week with 1-1-2, his 15th multi-point outing of the season, in a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins April 10. The 32-year-old veteran of 13 NHL seasons has played in 68 total games in 2021-22, placing among the top defensemen in goals (5th; 14), assists (t-6th; 49) and points (5th; 63) as well as power-play goals (t-3rd; 6) and power-play points (6th; 22).

THIRD STAR - JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Huberdeau notched 3-4-7 and a +7 rating in three appearances as the Panthers (51-15-6, 108 points) stretched their cushion atop the Eastern Conference to six points via a perfect week. He registered his fifth career five-point outing (2-3-5), including the overtime winner, to become
the first player in franchise history to record a 100-point season
as Florida rallied from a four-goal deficit for a 7-6 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs April 5. Huberdeau then collected one assist as the Panthers again overcame a multi-goal deficit, this time for a 4-3 triumph against the Buffalo Sabres April 8, before adding one goal in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators April 9. The 2012-13 Calder Memorial Trophy winner has skated in 72 total contests this season, ranking among the League leaders in assists (1st; 77), points (2nd; 104), power-play assists (4th; 28), power-play points (7th; 33) and plus/minus (t-10th; +34).