NHL Three Stars of the Week: Boldy’s Scorching Streak, Horvat’s Clutch Gene, and Vejmelka’s Brick Wall
We’re deep into the grind of the NHL season, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. But before we get too far ahead, let’s take a moment to spotlight three players who didn’t just show up this past week-they took over. From a franchise-record hat trick to back-to-back game-winners and a goaltender standing tall in the clutch, here’s a breakdown of the league’s top performers.
⭐ First Star: Matt Boldy, LW, Minnesota Wild
Matt Boldy is on a heater, and the Minnesota Wild are riding the wave.
With six points (3 goals, 3 assists) over just two games, Boldy has been the engine behind Minnesota’s five-game win streak that dates back to January 27. He kicked things off with a two-assist night against the Canadiens on February 2, including the secondary helper on Kirill Kaprizov’s overtime dagger in a 4-3 comeback win. But that was just the appetizer.
Two nights later, Boldy went full takeover mode. He dropped a hat trick in just 12 minutes and 58 seconds-the fastest from the start of a game in franchise history-then added a primary assist on Jared Spurgeon’s OT winner to cap off a wild 6-5 win over Nashville.
That’s a four-point night with the game hanging in the balance. That’s impact.
Boldy’s now riding a six-game point streak (5 goals, 6 assists), and his season numbers are nothing short of elite. With 32 goals and 30 assists through 54 games, he’s one of just five players in the league to hit the 30-30 mark so far this season.
The others? Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Kaprizov, and Jason Robertson.
That’s not just good company-that’s MVP-caliber company.
⭐ Second Star: Bo Horvat, C, New York Islanders
Bo Horvat’s week didn’t start hot, but it sure ended that way.
After being blanked in a 4-1 loss to Washington on February 2, Horvat flipped the switch and became the difference-maker the Islanders needed. He posted three points (2 goals, 1 assist) and a +5 rating in a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh the next night, including his 12th career overtime goal-an exclamation point on a wild back-and-forth affair.
Then, with the game tied late against New Jersey on February 5, Horvat stepped up again, burying the go-ahead goal with just 3:27 left in regulation. That’s back-to-back game-winners, making him the first Islander to pull that off since Kyle Palmieri did it in April 2024.
Even more impressive? Horvat leads the team with 24 goals and ranks second in points (40), despite missing 14 games this season. He’s been the heartbeat of the offense when he’s on the ice-and this week, he reminded everyone just how clutch he can be.
⭐ Third Star: Karel Vejmelka, G, Utah Mammoth
The Utah Mammoth are making a serious playoff push, and Karel Vejmelka is giving them exactly what they need between the pipes.
Vejmelka went a perfect 2-0-0 this week, posting a 1.51 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage in wins over Vancouver and Detroit. He was sharp and steady against the Canucks, stopping 22 shots-including all 10 in the third period-to secure a 6-2 win on February 2.
Then, in a tighter contest against the Red Wings two nights later, Vejmelka stood tall again. He made 29 saves and allowed just one goal, which came with just over four minutes left in regulation. That kind of late-game composure is exactly what you want from your netminder when the playoff race tightens.
Now with 27 wins in 44 appearances-already a career high-Vejmelka is tied for the league lead in victories. His season line (27-14-2, 2.58 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 shutout) might not jump off the page at first glance, but make no mistake: he’s been one of the most dependable goaltenders in the league this season, and Utah’s surge into the Western Conference Wild Card picture has his fingerprints all over it.
Bottom Line:
Boldy’s lighting it up, Horvat’s delivering in crunch time, and Vejmelka’s locking it down. These are the kind of performances that shift momentum-and in February, that matters more than ever.