The NHL announced its Three Stars of the Week for the period ending January 25, 2026, honoring Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov as the first star, Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov as the second, and Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal as the third. Kaprizov led with nine points in four games, while Kucherov tallied eight in three, and Dostal secured four wins with strong goaltending. These performances highlight standout contributions amid tight divisional races.
On January 26, 2026, the NHL recognized top performers from the week ending January 25 through its GEICO-sponsored Three Stars program. Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov earned first-star honors after recording 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points across four games, helping the Wild to a 2-1-1 record and securing second place in the Central Division with a 29-14-10 mark and 68 points. His contributions included two assists in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 19 and a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on January 20, followed by 2 goals and 1 assist—including his 13th career overtime goal—in a 4-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, and 1 goal and 1 assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on January 24. Kaprizov, 28, ranks sixth league-wide with 28 goals, 36 assists, and 64 points in 53 games this season, placing him among the top 10 in power-play goals, shots on goal, even-strength points, and power-play points.
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov took second star with 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points in three games, guiding the Lightning to a 2-1-0 week and a 32-14-4 record with 68 points. He notched three assists in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on January 20, scored once in regulation and once in the shootout during a 2-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 23, and added 1 goal and 3 assists for a four-point night in an 8-5 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 24, ending Tampa Bay's 15-game point streak. The 32-year-old leads the NHL with 27 points in January (8 goals, 19 assists over 11 games) and sits third overall with 26 goals, 52 assists, and 78 points in 46 games.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal claimed third star after going 4-0-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and .925 save percentage, extending the Ducks' winning streak to seven games and improving their record to 28-21-3 with 59 points. He made 19 saves in a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers on January 19, a season-high 40 saves plus two in the shootout for a 2-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on January 21, 20 saves in a 4-2 triumph over the Seattle Kraken on January 23, and 32 saves in a 4-3 overtime win versus the Calgary Flames on January 25. Dostal, 25, ties for eighth in the league with 19 wins in 35 games this season (19-12-2, 3.00 GAA, .895 SV%) and will represent Czechia at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
These accolades underscore individual excellence driving team success in a competitive season, with Kucherov set to captain Tampa Bay in the upcoming 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium.
