Thomas McIntosh awards our final three stars of the regular season
This final week has seen its fair share of drama and with it has brought some terrific performances. But despite many players fighting hard to get their teams into the post season two of the three stars have been awarded to players representing teams who had already been eliminated.
First Star: Cam Atkinson, Right Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
With Rick Nash largely expected to have played his last game for the Blue Jackets the league’s basement dwellers are going to need to find goals from elsewhere if they are to be competitive next season.
R.J Umberger has led the line in recent weeks but a long term successor for their talisman might just have emerged this week.
With five goals in his last five periods Cam Atkinson has given the Blue Jackets some reason for optimism after a torrid season and a summer of uncertainty looming.
Atkinson is a product of the stellar Boston College programme and was potent at NCAA level netting 68 goals and tallying 124 points in his three year stay with the Eagles.
Atkinson’s terrific close to the season comes after a twelve game goal drought and rather disappointing debut season.
“I feel like I’ve been playing pretty solid for the last 25 games I’ve been up here,” Atkinson told the press. “Obviously I wasn’t scoring or getting any assists or anything but I felt like I was playing pretty good defensively. It’s nice to end the last stretch of games with some points.”
Second Star: Sidney Crosby, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins
With three goals and five assists in his four games this week Sidney Crosby has had another good week since his return and continues to be a model for consistency.
What makes these performances more notable is the fact that they came against the Penguins closest competitors in the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs; Philadelphia (twice), Boston, and the New York Rangers. An ominous sign for the league with the playoffs starting next week.
Despite his stellar play of late Crosby has come under criticism this week and been garnering attention for the wrong reasons. Scrutiny is only natural for a player of his profile and calibre and comes with the territory I guess.
Rangers coach John Tortorella described him, and Evgeni Malkin as the Penguin’s “Whining Stars”. Whilst Don Cherry criticised him for a cheap retaliation hit he delivered to Brayden Schenn.
Love him or hate him, few fans will argue with his talent.
Third Star: Steven Stamkos, Centre, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hockey fans can feel slightly aggrieved that Steven Stamkos won’t be gracing us with his presence during the post-season.
The Lightning’s sniper has been in fine form all season and thanks to this weeks efforts has recorded his first sixty goal season in the NHL.
This is an extraordinary feat and the first time in four years that a player has achieved this, the last to do so being Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin.
What makes Stamkos’ achievements this season more admirable is his supporting cast has been extremely disappointing for the majority of the season.
The fact that his individual output has remained so high despite the collective output of his team being so low is not only testament to his ability but to his character as well.
Just Missing the Cut:
As said a lot of players have put in Herculean efforts to help their teams into the post season. Here are this weeks other notables.
Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes): Last weeks first star carried his fine form into this week and even though his shutout streak was broken he was decisive in Phoenix winning their first ever Divisional title.
Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins): With another seven points this past week Malkin confirmed his position as the league’s top points scorer to win the Art Ross trophy.
Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks): His two goals helped the Sharks to defeat the Kings. The defenceman has played well to help San Jose into the playoffs.
Alexander Semin (Washington Capitals): Number eight might dominate the conversation but Semin has had a good week contributing four points and seems to be returning to form as well.
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