In the high-stakes arena of NHL hockey, where every save and shot can ignite a team's destiny, this week's Three Stars of the Week shine brightly as beacons of excellence – but stick around, because their journeys reveal deeper layers of triumph and resilience that might just make you rethink what it takes to dominate on the ice!
Ducks Netminder, Senators Winger Batherson, and Sharks Forward Kurashev Claim the Spotlight
By NHL Public Relations
November 03, 2025
NEW YORK – The Anaheim Ducks' goalkeeper Lukas Dostal (https://www.nhl.com/player/lukas-dostal-8480843), Ottawa Senators right winger Drake Batherson (https://www.nhl.com/player/drake-batherson-8480208), and San Jose Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (https://www.nhl.com/player/philipp-kurashev-8480798) have been honored as the NHL's "Three Stars" sponsored by GEICO for the period concluding on Nov. 2.
FIRST STAR – LUKAS DOSTAL, G, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Dostal stood out across the league with an impeccable record of three victories in three appearances (3-0-0), boasting a stellar 1.63 goals-against average, a robust .948 save percentage, and a league-leading 91 saves that drove the Ducks (7-3-1, 15 points) to a flawless week and the top spot in the Pacific Division. For beginners in hockey stats, goals-against average (GAA) measures how many goals a goalie allows per game on average, while save percentage (SV%) shows the fraction of shots they successfully stop – these metrics help gauge a netminder's effectiveness. He thwarted 31 shots, including two out of three in a shootout, during a narrow 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Oct. 28. Dostal followed up with 28 saves, 14 of which came in a grueling second period, in a convincing 5-2 defeat of the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 31. Wrapping up the week, he achieved a personal season-best of 32 stops in a 4-1 triumph against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 2. The 25-year-old Dostal, selected in the third round (85th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, holds a 5-3-1 record (2.55 GAA, .916 SV%) in nine outings this season and a career mark of 47-61-14 (3.23 GAA, .903 SV%, 2 shutouts) across 130 NHL games, all with Anaheim. And this is the part most people miss: his rapid ascent as a young talent raises questions about how much pressure lies on rookie goalies to deliver in high-stakes moments.
ANA@FLA: Dostal shuts the door on Jones' late opportunity
SECOND STAR – DRAKE BATHERSON, RW, OTTAWA SENATORS
Batherson topped the league with 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points, including two game-winning tallies, across four games that lifted the Senators (6-5-2, 14 points) to a solid 2-1-1 record for the week. He delivered another 2-1—3 performance (following his Oct. 25 outing at Washington), complete with the clinching goal, in a 7-2 rout of the Boston Bruins on Oct. 27. Batherson then chipped in two assists during a 7-3 setback against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 28, before adding one assist and the pivotal shootout marker in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Oct. 30. He finished strong with 1-1—2, marking his fourth multi-point game in five contests, in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 1. The 27-year-old Batherson, drafted in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, leads Ottawa with 5-10—15 in 10 games this season and boasts 121-187—308 in 401 career NHL appearances, all with Ottawa. But here's where it gets controversial: is Batherson's prolific scoring streak a sign of individual brilliance, or does it highlight how team dynamics can propel a player to stardom?
BOS@OTT: Batherson notches his second goal of the game
THIRD STAR – PHILIPP KURASHEV, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Kurashev amassed 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points in four games, helping the Sharks (4-6-3, 11 points) secure five out of eight possible standings points. He kicked off the week with 1-1—2 in back-to-back contests: a 4-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 28 and a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 30. Kurashev then netted two goals, including his fourth career overtime game-winner, in a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 1. He contributed one assist in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 2. The 26-year-old Kurashev, picked in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft by Chicago, has 5-4—9 in 11 games this season (his debut with San Jose) and 53-86—139 in 328 career NHL outings. For those new to the game, a center like Kurashev often plays a pivotal role in orchestrating plays, and his ability to score in extra time exemplifies clutch performance under pressure.
COL@SJS: Kurashev blasts in a wrist shot to win it in overtime
GEICO's "Fourth Star" initiative celebrates the passionate fans who elevate the NHL experience. Visit here (https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/4th-star/) to check out last season's "Fourth Star" honorees and discover how this program recognizes unwavering fan dedication. In a league where awards can spark debate, do you believe these Three Stars truly capture the week's most impactful plays, or should there be more emphasis on team contributions? And here's a thought-provoking angle: with so many young players rising fast, are we witnessing a shift in power from veterans to newcomers? We'd love to hear your take – agree or disagree in the comments below!
