:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57167945/usa_today_10341152.0.jpg)
After nine points his last four games, the NHL on Monday named Nicklas Backstrom as the league’s “Third Star” for last week.
The career point-a-game player joined Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers and Toronto’s Auston Matthews in the group after three goals and six assists against Tampa Bay (1g, 2a), Pittsburgh (1a), New Jersey (1g, 3a), and Philadelphia (1g). On the season as a whole, the 29-year-old center has three goals and 11 points, the latter of which is good enough for a tie for first place on the team with Evgeny Kuznetsov and his 11 assists.
Backstrom is well on his way to another great outing in 2017-18. After racking up 63 assists last season (his highest total since 68 in 2009-10), he’s already more than one-eighth of the way to equaling that mark.
ARLINGTON, Va. - Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstromhas been named the NHL's "Third Star" for the week ending Oct. 15, the NHL announced today.
Backstrom paced the NHL with 3-6-9 in four games with the Capitals (3-2-1, 7 points). He posted 1-2-3, factoring on all three Washington goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Oct. 9. Backstrom added one assist in a 3‑2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins Oct. 11 before recording 1-3-4, his 19th career four-point game, in a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils Oct. 13. He closed the week with one goal in an 8-2 loss to Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 14. The 29-year-old Gävle, Sweden, native has collected 191-548-739 in 740 career NHL games, including a League-high 3-8-11 in six outings this season. Backstrom's 548 career assists rank third in the NHL since his debut in 2007-08, while his 739 career points place fifth.