Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom named NHL’s First Star of the Week
By Ryan Pike
5 months agoA Calgary Flames player has earned top honours from the National Hockey League for their recent play. On Monday, the NHL announced that goaltender Jacob Markstrom has been named the First Star of the Week for his performance for the week ending Feb. 11.
Here’s the league’s praise for Markstrom, via NHL PR:
Markstrom guided Calgary to three straight road victories coming out of the All-Star break, going 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .939 save percentage to lift the Flames (25-22-5, 55 points) within three points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He made 21 saves in a 4-1 triumph over the No. 2-ranked Boston Bruins Feb. 6. Markstrom then turned aside 37 shots, capped by 15 in the final frame, in a 5-3 win against the New Jersey Devils Feb. 8. He closed the week with 35 saves, including 16 in the third period, in a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders Feb. 10. The 34-year-old Markstrom, who has won a season-high four consecutive starts dating to Jan. 27 (1.50 GAA, .954 SV%, 1 SO), owns a 17-13-2 record, 2.54 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts through 32 total appearances in 2023-24. That includes a 16-7-1 mark in 24 games since Nov. 7 (2.38 GAA, .921 SV%, 2 SO) following a 1-6-1 start to the season (3.03 GAA, .897 SV%, 0 SO).
The 34-year-old Markstrom is having a strong season, bouncing back from (a) a challenging 2022-23 campaign and (b) a tough start for the team as a whole to begin 2023-24. Markstrom’s provided really consistent, effective goaltending, with his performances arguably getting better as the season has progressed.
In 32 appearances this season, Markstrom has posted a 17-13-2 record with a 2.54 goals against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts. He’s been getting low-key Vezina Trophy buzz and started to appear in trade chatter for one reason: he’s been really, really good.
The Flames complete their four-game eastern road trip on Monday evening when they face the New York Rangers.
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