Michael and Ryan sit down to for a slew of rapid-fire questions about the biggest topics in and around the NHL. Auston Matthews [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAyOTc4MTgwODcxNDk2NzE2/usatsi_22106934.jpg] Auston Matthews Welcome once again to the Three Stars of the Week, an ongoing THN.com file in which we pick a trio of NHLers who had the most meaningful impact for their team in the past seven days. Let’s get right to it: 3. NOAH DOBSON, NEW YORK ISLANDERS Dobson has been far and away the Islanders’ best blueliner this season, averaging 25:33 of ice time in 30 games. But he elevated his game this past week, racking up eight assists in four games and boosting his average ice time to 27:48 in that span – the third-best in the league behind Kings star D-man Drew Doughty (28:29) and Wild defenseman Brock Faber (28:38). Dobson now has 27 assists and 32 points this season. The 23-year-old Dobson has 25 more points than the next-most-productive Isles defenseman, and with a salary cap of $4 million, he’s one of the better bargains in the NHL at the moment. Dobson won’t be a restricted free agent until 2025, but Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello will endeavor to get his name on a contract extension well before he ever hits the RFA market. Dobson has the size (6-foot-4), smarts and determination to make him one of the game’s better blueliners, and we saw this week what he could do when his offensive instincts were paying off. 2. FILIP GUSTAVSSON, MINNESOTA WILD After firing coach Dean Evason on Nov. 27, the Wild have bounced back and won seven of nine games. One of the key reasons why is the outstanding play of 25-year-old goalie Gustavsson, who went 3-0-0 this past week, and put up a 0.95 goals-against average and .969 save percentage. Gustavsson’s season stats – including a .908 SP, 2.84 G.A.A. and 8-7-2 record in 18 appearances – aren’t going to push him into conversations about the Vezina Trophy, but if he can continue to ratchet up his game, the Swedish netminder is going to help Minnesota to get back into the mix for a wild card berth in the Central Division. Gustavsson’s cap hit of $3.75 million is reasonable for what he’s doing on the ice right now – and with tandem-mate Marc-Andre Fleury (3.29 G.A.A., .886 SP) not at the top of his game, Gustavsson needs to continue to do the heavy lifting for the Wild. Gustavsson is signed through the 2025-26 campaign, and with the caliber of his performance of late, he’s Minnesota’s starting goalie of the present and the future. 1. AUSTON MATTHEWS, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Matthews missed the Maple Leafs’ game Saturday against Pittsburgh with an illness, but in the three games he did appear in this week, the 26-year-old superstar center made his opponents nauseous, generating five goals and eight points to give him 23 goals and 35 points in 27 games this season. Matthews now leads the league in goals, and he’s on pace for 67 goals – which would be a new career-high for him – and 103 points. Matthews’ frequent linemate Mitch Marner and fellow Leafs star forward William Nylander also had big weeks for Toronto – Maner posted five assists and nine points in four games, while Nylander had six assists and eight points in four games – but when Matthews is in a groove, he’s the most unstoppable Leaf of them all. Matthews is on target to win what would be his third Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal-scorer, and with his long-term contract status now settled, he’s demonstrating how comfortable he is as he moves into the prime of his career. He thrives despite being the focal point of the opposition’s defense night-in and night-out, which is why he’s a generational star – and the best performer in the NHl this week.
