Jakub Vrana just had one of the best weeks of his career, and the NHL is rewarding him for it.
The Caps forward is the NHL’s second star of the week for the week ending 11/3. V had six points during the week, including 5 goals in two games and his first-ever hat trick Sunday night against the Calgary Flames (with the newly-crowned World Series champion Nationals in attendance).
Vrana’s five goals were more than any other NHL player last week.
The 23-year-old is now third on the Capitals with 14 points in 16 games this year. It comes a year after posting career highs in goals (24), assists (23) and points (47) in 2018-19.
Sit back and watch all of @jvranaa's goals from his 2nd star week ⭐️ ⭐️ #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/IuRImrz1wl
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 4, 2019
Vrana’s honor comes a week after John Carlson was named the NHL’s first star of the month for October. Carlson had a historic month which saw the longtime Capital become only the fourth defenseman ever to register 20 points or more during the opening month of the season.
The Capitals currently lead the NHL in standings points and they are being pushed to the top by people other than Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby.
With his Second Star of the Week honors following a six point week performance (5g, 1a), Jakub Vrana becomes the 32nd player in franchise history to be named a Star of the Week.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 4, 2019
More from the NHL:
NEW YORK (Nov. 4, 2019) – Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson, Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 3.
FIRST STAR – ELIAS PETTERSSON, C, VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Pettersson led the NHL with six assists and nine points in four games (3-6—9) to help the Canucks (9-3-2, 20 points) post a 3-0-1 week and extend their overall point streak to seven contests dating to Oct. 20 (5-0-2). Pettersson collected three assists in a 7-2 victory over the Florida Panthers Oct. 28. He then registered 1-3—4, his third career four-point performance, in a 5-3 triumph against the Los Angeles Kings Oct. 30. Pettersson was held off the scoresheet in a 2‑1 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks Nov. 1, but rebounded with a pair of goals in a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Nov. 2. The 20-year-old Sundsvall, Sweden, native ranks sixth in the NHL with 6-14—20 through 14 appearances this season after topping rookies in goals (28), assists (38) and points (66) en route to capturing the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2018-19.
SECOND STAR – JAKUB VRANA, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Vrana paced the NHL with five goals in three contests (5-1—6) as the League-leading Capitals (11-2-3, 25 points) recorded a perfect week to extend their overall point streak to nine games dating to Oct. 16 (8-0-1). Vrana picked up an assist on Alex Ovechkin’s overtime winner in a 4-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 29. He then posted multiple goals in each of his next two outings, scoring twice in a 6-1 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres Nov. 1 and registering his first career hat trick (as well as the game-winning goal) in a 4-2 victory against the Calgary Flames Nov. 3. The 23-year-old Prague, Czech Republic, native sits third on Washington with 9‑5—14 through 16 games this season after posting career highs in goals (24), assists (23) and points (47) in 2018-19.
THIRD STAR – MIKE SMITH, G, EDMONTON OILERS
Smith stopped 74 of the 76 shots he faced, compiling a 2-0-0 record, 0.98 goals-against average and .974 save percentage to backstop the Pacific Division-leading Oilers (10-4-1, 21 points) to a pair of wins in three starts. Smith turned aside 23 shots in a 4-1 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets Oct. 30. He then made 51 stops, his third career 50-save performance, in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins Nov. 2. The other two: April 3, 2012 vs. CBJ (54 SV/54 SA) and Dec. 3, 2016 vs. CBJ (58 SV/60 SA). The 37-year-old Kingston, Ont., native has played in nine total games this season, ranking fifth in the NHL with a 2.12 goals-against average and seventh with a .931 save percentage to go along with a 5-3-1 record.
