John Tavares named NHL’s first star of the week

Watch as John Tavares of the New York Islanders scores with his stick between his legs against the Buffalo Sabres.

New York Islanders centre John Tavares has been named the first star of the final week of the NHL regular season.

The Islanders captain Tavares led the NHL with nine points (four goals, five assists) in four games as the Islanders claimed the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Tavares led the Islanders with 70 points (33 goals, 37 assists) in 78 games and reached the 70-point plateau for a third straight season.

Chicago star Patrick Kane has been named the second star with three goals and three assists in three games as the Blackhawks locked up the third seed in the Central Division.

Kane finished the season with a league-leading 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists), become the first American-born player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy.

Washington captain Alex Ovechkin is the week’s third star after putting up five goals in three games, including his 50th of the season.

Ovechkin had 50 goals and 21 assists in 71 games to help the Capitals win the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team.

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