Viktor Arvidsson Named NHL’s First Star of the Week

Happy Monday, Insiders!

Sharing a bit of leaguewide recognition for Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson, who capped off yet another multi-point game yesterday evening with two goals and an assist in the win over St. Louis. As the Kings went 3-0-0 across their three games played, Arvidsson tallied multiple points in all three games. His five goals on the week were the most across the NHL, while his seven total points were one shy of the league lead. This week marks both the second time in his career he’s posted three consecutive multi-point games and the second time he’s been honored by the NHL as a star of the week, previously collecting third-star honors back in 2017.

Arvidsson spoke after yesterday’s game about the work he’s been able to put in towards his shot, as he finally feels as if he’s beyond the back problems that cost him last season’s playoff run and almost all of his summer. Todd McLellan was highly complementary of Arvidsson for not just his offensive production, but for what he brings to the team as a whole. Sharing those quotes below.

Todd McLellan on Viktor Arvidsson
He’s a hell of a player. We see the shot, the skating, the tenacity night after night, but there’s a lot of other things that go into that. His competitiveness on the bench and his discussion that he has with his linemates, him setting things up powerplay wise. He’s into it and it rubs off on others.

Viktor Arvidsson on his play this week
I think I’ve been able to practice my shot a little bit more, I hadn’t been able to shoot pucks for 2 summers with my back problems. Now, I’m starting to get back with my shot and confidence in my shooting. I think it’s getting better, I know I can be a goalscorer in this league. I’ve got to keep working on it.

Last night was Arvidsson’s first game back with Kevin Fiala, with the pair looking as if they hadn’t missed a beat. McLellan called their line, with Phillip Danault in the middle, the team’s most dangerous on the evening. Danault is a do-it-all kind of player, who has the offensive awareness to mix in with arguably the two most creative offensive players on the team. Arvidsson and Fiala are a terrific mix when they’re on their games and it’d be hard to argue that they aren’t right now.

Arvidsson and the Kings take a 12-game point streak on the road with them, as they head to Calgary later today to begin a four-game roadtrip. All four games will be against Pacific Division opposition, with the next six in total coming within the division. Two of the four on this trip, and four of the next six, will come against teams currently in playoff positions, with Calgary still in the mix as well and Vancouver having the Kings number as of late. This stretch will go a long way towards determining the Kings playoff fate, as well as where they would begin the postseason, whether it be as a division winner, with home-ice advantage, or on the road.

From the NHL’s Official Release –
The NHL announced today that Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson has been named the league’s First Star for the Week ending March 26. This recognition is the second Star of the Week honor Arvidsson has received in his career after being named third star for the week ending Feb. 12, 2017.

Over the past week, no player in the league scored more goals than Arvidsson’s five, while his seven points (5-2=7) in three games tied for second-most behind Montreal’s Nick Suzuki (2-6=8) and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (1-7=8). Of his seven points, four came on the power-play, which tied teammate Phillip Danault for the league lead.

Arvidsson also had multi-point performances in all three outings this week (1-1=2 on March 20 vs. CGY; 2-0=2 on March 25 vs. WPG; 2-1=3 on March 26 vs. STL), marking the second time in his career he has recorded multi-point efforts in three consecutive games. He opened the week by scoring his 20th goal of the campaign and reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fifth time in his career. On March 26 vs. St. Louis, Arvidsson tallied two goals and an assist in the first period, becoming the third Kings player in the past 10 years to record three or more points in the opening frame of a game, joining Kevin Fiala (2-1=3 on Feb. 18, 2022) and Jeff Carter (1-2=3 on Feb. 9, 2017).

Guiding the Kings through a franchise-long 12-game point streak (10-0-2), Arvidsson’s 12 points (6-6=12) in that span are third-most on the team behind Adrian Kempe (8-4=12) and Anze Kopitar (6-7=13). In 68 games this season, Arvidsson ranks third in goals (24), fifth in assists (29) and fourth in points (53) among all Kings skaters. His 53 points is also the second-best of his career, trailing a pair of back-to-back 61-point campaigns in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Arvidsson will look to continue his scoring streak as the Kings embark on a four-game Pacific Division road trip beginning with the Calgary Flames tomorrow, March 28. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. PT) and will be broadcast on Bally Sports West TV and the LA Kings Audio Network on iHeartRadio.

No practice today, Insiders. Coming off the back-to-back, today would have been a recovery day for the group but the schedule dictates that it will be a travel day instead. The Kings will depart for Calgary later on this afternoon, with the Flames on the docket tomorrow evening on the road. We’ll have another story up here this afternoon and full coverage from Alberta to follow come tomorrow morning!