NHL Stars of the Week – Sorokin Shines for Top Honors

Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of January 27th through February 2nd.

First Star – Ilya Sorokin (G – NYI)

Sorokin went 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average, .953 save percentage and one shutout to help the Islanders (24-21-7, 55 points) – who ran their win streak to seven games, their longest since Feb. 28 – March 14, 2021 (9 GP), before suffering a Sunday defeat – move within four points of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He stopped 30 shots, including all 14 he faced in the first period, in a 5-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche Jan. 28. Sorokin then earned his 21st career shutout (all w/ NYI) – one shy of equaling Billy Smith for second place in franchise history – with 23 saves in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Jan. 30. He finished the week with 28 stops in a 3-2 overtime triumph versus the Tampa Bay Lightning Feb. 1 to extend his personal winning streak to six games dating to Jan. 20 (1.19 GAA, .958 SV%, 1 SO), two back of his career high established from Feb. 16 – March 22, 2021 (8 GP). The 29-year-old Sorokin has played in 37 total contests this season, compiling a 19-14-4 record, 2.63 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and three shutouts.

Thompson led the NHL with 4-4—8 and a +9 rating in three games to propel the Sabres (21-26-5, 47 points) to a perfect week. He notched 3-1—4, including his seventh career hat trick (all w/ BUF – 7th in franchise history), in a 7-2 victory over the Boston Bruins Jan. 28. Thompson – along with teammate JJ Peterka (3-1—4) – also set a personal best with a +6 rating, the highest plus/minus by a Buffalo player since Feb. 2, 1998 (Richard Smehlik: +6 at TBL). Thompson then collected the primary assist on Jiri Kulich’s tiebreaking goal with 2:04 remaining in regulation in a 4-3 triumph against the Nashville Predators Jan. 31 before closing the week with 1-2—3, highlighted by his 300th career point, in a 4-3 win versus the New Jersey Devils Feb. 2. The 27-year-old Thompson, who shares eighth place in the League with 26 goals this season, tops the Sabres with 26-22—48 through 47 total contests in 2024-25.

Sanderson totaled 2-4—6 in two games to power the Senators (28-20-4, 60 points) – who occupy third place in the Atlantic Division – to their fourth straight victory dating to Jan. 25. He collected 1-1—2, recording an assist while shorthanded and a goal while on the power play, in a 5-4 overtime win against the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals Jan. 30. Sanderson then established a personal high with 1-3—4, including his 100th career NHL point, in a 6-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild Feb. 1. The 22-year-old Sanderson paces Ottawa blueliners and ranks 16th among all NHL defensemen with 4‑29—33 through 51 total appearances this season, five points shy of his career high set in 2023-24 (10‑28—38 in 79 GP).

*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Ottawa Senators.

*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.

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