Most productive player
Jordan Staal is one of the most experienced players in the NHL and Carolina certainly haven't had him picking up points for a long time. Yet, the 36-year-old veteran and 2009 Stanley Cup winner can still do it. In four games, he scored five goals and added two assists - he had just four goals in the season until last week.
Staal scored a hat-trick (the fourth of his career) in the Hurricanes' 6-3 win over Toronto, putting him alongside Jaromir Jagr with a very specific record. Only the two of them have scored hat-tricks in the NHL at the age of 18 and while over 36.
More milestones await him soon in the league as well. Staal is three games short of 1,300, six goals short of 300 and just two points short of 700 in his career. Outside of Staal, Philadelphia's Travis Konecny and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov also managed seven points in the week.
Goaltender of the week
If the Vezina Trophy were being awarded at this point, it would have to go to Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg, who is having an incredible season. Tuesday's 5-2 win over Nashville was his 300th in the NHL, and he did it in 538 games. Only two goalies and no American have done that faster in history.
In addition, he saved all 22 Colorado shots in a 3-0 win on Saturday and recorded his sixth shutout of the season. He has as many clean sheets as he has losses in the season so far.
Highlight of the week
Sidney Crosby is one of the best hockey players in history, no doubt about it. The only thing that is not known is what numbers he will end his career with. So far, he has been steadily rising and most recently managed to jump to ninth place in the historical scoring competition with 1,642 points, behind Colorado legend Joe Sakic.
"I'm running out of superlatives. He's an unbelievable professional and he's a great representative of the sport, the league and of course the Pittsburgh Penguins," coach Mike Sullivan said after the 5-3 win over Edmonton, which Crosby led with a goal and two assists.
Before that, he also had two assists in a 4-3 shootout loss to Columbus, becoming the 10th player in NHL history to record at least 250 regular season games with two assists. In addition, in that game, he became the league's record holder for most faceoffs won with 15,183.
Stat of the week
The Tanev brothers are seriously sharp guys known for not shying away from anything on the ice. Not even a fast-flying puck. Toronto defenseman Chris leads the NHL in blocked shots (122) and his brother Brandon from Seattle is the top forward with 72.
Social media highlight
The NHL has postponed two games this season. The recent Los Angeles Kings game with the Calgary Flames was due to the fires. And the Tampa Bay Lightning's game against the Carolina Hurricanes due to... well, a hurricane, ironaically.
Pic of the week
Just like a week ago, here's Seattle's unsuccessful forward again and a great goaltending save against him. This time it was New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom who shone, spectacularly trapping an attempt by Finnish forward Eeli Tolvanen.
Ladislav Smid's take
"Half of the season is over and there are a few points that stand out. For example, Nashville and the New York Rangers. - two clubs that are completely different in the table than expected.
"The Predators brought in experienced players over the summer and now it's downright scrubby. It's hard to say where exactly the problem is, because on paper the team has the strength, but on the other hand it's only halfway through the season. All it takes is a series of winning games and everything can turn around.
"For the Rangers, the disappointment is perhaps even greater, which is why the position of general manager Chris Drury and the entire management has been discussed in the media for some time now. Meanwhile, there has already been the exodus of captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim and Kaap Kakko to Seattle, one of the long-time mainstays Chris Kreider has been a healthy scratch a few times...
"Either way, they have to figure it out on their own, the team has that strength, plus they have one of the best goalies in the entire league in goal. Let's not write them off.
"And since I'm a fan of Czechs in the NHL, I can't leave out Lukas Dostal in Anaheim. He's saving great, outplaying John Gibson and we'll see what happens next. I'm glad he kept his form from the World Championships, I think he will definitely be counted on as a number one in the future. He's proving he's got it. Even though the Ducks don't have that mature team yet, he gives them a chance to win every game."
