NHL Stars of the Week – Draisaitl Earns First Star

Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of December 9th through 15th.

First Star – Leon Draisaitl (C – EDM)

Draisaitl registered 3-6—9, highlighted by two game-winning goals, in three contests to help the Oilers (18-10-2, 38 points) complete a perfect week and move into third place in the Pacific Division on the strength of a five-game winning streak dating to Dec. 5. He became the first player this season to reach the 20-goal mark with 1-1—2, including the decisive tally, in a 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 10. Draisaitl then notched 1-3—4, his 27th career four-point performance and first of 2024‑25, in a 7-1 win versus the Minnesota Wild Dec. 12. He finished the week with 1-2—3, capped by his League-leading seventh game-winning goal of the campaign, in a 6-3 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights Dec. 14. The 29-year-old Draisaitl shares first place in the NHL in goals (22) and ranks fifth in points (45) through 30 total appearances this season (22-23—45), powered by multiple points in each contest during Edmonton’s current five-game winning streak (5-8—13). He and the Oilers will face the Florida Panthers for the first time since Game 7 the 2024 Stanley Cup Final when they meet tonight at Rogers Place on “Prime Monday Night Hockey” (8:30 p.m. ET, Prime, TVAS, NHLN, SCRIPPS).

MacKinnon factored on nine of Colorado’s 12 total goals, topping the League with 4-5—9 (all at even strength) in three games to propel the Avalanche (18-14-0, 36 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He recorded his ninth career five-point performance – and second of the campaign (also Nov. 5 vs. SEA: 0-5—5) – with 1-4—5 in a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 10. MacKinnon then scored Colorado’s lone goal in a 4-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club Dec. 12. He added 2-1—3, his sixth outing with at least three points this season, in a 5-2 victory against the Nashville Predators Dec. 14 to become the first NHL player to reach the 50-point milestone in 2024-25. The 29-year-old MacKinnon – the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner – has played in 32 total contests this season (13-37—50), ranking among the top two in the League in points (1st; 50), assists (1st; 37), even-strength assists (1st; 26), even-strength points (2nd; 36) and shots on goal (2nd; 126).

Ullmark stopped 88 of the 91 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 0.99 goals-against average, .967 save percentage and one shutout to lift the Senators (15-13-2, 32 points) into the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference via an unblemished week. He made 31 saves, including 16 in the second period, in a 5-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 11. Ullmark then recorded his 10th career shutout with 32 stops in a 3-0 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 13. He closed the week with 25 saves in 3-2 overtime win versus the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 14. The 31-year-old Ullmark, who has earned points in each of his past seven starts dating to Nov. 27 (6-0-1, 1.55 GAA, .950 SV%, 1 SO), owns a 10-7-2 record, 2.52 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts through 20 total appearances this season – his first with Ottawa.

*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, and Ottawa Senators.

*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.

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