Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko has been named the NHL’s second star of the week ending on December 17th.

Demko amassed a 3-0 record and picked up a shutout in the process in the three starts he made this past week. Demko’s first win came on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, when the Canucks won by a final score of 4-1. A defensive breakdown in front of Demko just minutes into the game was the only shot that Tampa managed to get behind the Canucks’ netminder.

Demko followed that performance up with a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Roberto Luongo’s Ring of Honour night, making 36 saves on 36 shots. Demko was also the Canucks’ best penalty killer in these two games, as the club’s PK went 3/3 in both games against the Florida teams. Sunday’s game against Chicago was a bit of a different story, but Demko was still there to make the key saves when the Canucks needed him to during their 4-3 win over the Blackhawks.

Picking up first star honours on the week is Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, who extended the NHL’s longest active point streak to 15 games dating back to November 20th. MacKinnon tallied a whopping three goals and seven assists through the four games he appeared in this past week. Per NHL PR: MacKinnon has the most points among all NHL players during the calendar year (48-76—124 in 78 GP), and currently ranks second with 14-33—47 through 31 total appearances in 2023-24. He also sits among this season’s leaders in assists (1st; 33), power-play assists (t-2nd; 15), shots on goal (3rd; 137) and power-play points (t-8th; 16). MacKinnon also pulled ahead of JT Miller for second in the league in points with 47.

New York Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson picked up third star honours for the week after recording eight assists and a +7 rating in four games this past week. Dobson also picked up the secondary assist on Bo Horvat’s overtime winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 11th.