NHL Names Kucherov, Pastrnak, Bouchard January Stars

New York - The National Hockey League announced its three stars of the month for January 2026 on Friday, recognizing standout performances that propelled their teams toward playoff contention. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov earned first star honors, followed by Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak as second star and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard as third star.

Kucherov led the league with 31 points, including a league-high 22 assists, over 13 games. His production fueled the Lightning's dominant 11-1-1 record during the month, securing first place in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. The 32-year-old Russian star registered points in 12 of those contests and notched a league-best 10 multi-point games. January marked Kucherov's third career month with at least 30 points, placing him among an elite group as the eighth player in NHL history to achieve the milestone three or more times.

Pastrnak tied for second in the league with 25 points, comprising 20 assists, across 14 games. His contributions helped the Bruins compile an 11-2-1 mark, allowing them to surge into the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Czech forward's...