Chicago Blackhawks, NHL 3 Stars: 2017 Starts With A Bang

Western Conference 3 Stars

Third star: Minnesota C Mikko Koivu. Koivu’s three goals and one assist over the past two games helped the Wild avoid a “dead-cat bounce” after Columbus snapped Minnesota’s 12-game win streak on New Year’s Eve.

He scored both the game-tying goal and the game-winner in the Wild’s 5-4 win over San Jose Thursday night, then earned a huge assist on Zach Parise’s late goal that sent the game to overtime and earned a valuable point Saturday night in a 4-3 loss to the Kings.

Koivu’s 28 points ranks fourth on the team as the Wild hang tantalizingly close behind the Blackhawks in the Central Division with four games in hand.

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Second star: Winnipeg F Nikolaj Ehlers. Ehlers had an assist and four goals last week as the Jets won two of three games to stay in the fight for a Western Conference wild-card slot. His two goals Tuesday night included the game-winner in the Jets’ 6-4 win over Tampa Bay.

Ehlers leads the Jets with 22 assists, and his 36 points ranks second on the team.

First star: St. Louis F Vladimir Tarasenko. During his current three-game scoring streak, Tarasenko notched two goals (including the game-winner) against the Blackhawks, and one goal each in a 4-2 loss to Carolina and the 4-3 win over Dallas. His 20 goals and 43 points are both tops for the Blues and rank third and second, respectively, in the Western Conference.

Next: NHL Stanley Cup Odds Favor Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild

With Tarasenko, the Blues have one of the league’s top snipers, and that makes them a very formidable opponent.