Tavares named NHL’s first star of the week

Islanders forward John Tavares has been named the NHL’s first star of the week after scoring five goals in three games, with two assists to boot.

Tavares, 22, had a hat trick Saturday against the Devils and currently sits sixth in league scoring, with 20 points in 14 games.

“He comes to the rink every day and gets better,” Isles coach Jack Capuano said recently, per the New York Hockey Journal.

“He’s prepared, he’s focused, he’s committed, he’s willing to do all little things and the intangibles to be one of the best players in the league and in the world. And that’s where he’s at right now.”

Meanwhile, two rather unlikely players earned second- and third-star honors, with Ducks goalie Viktor Fasth and Hurricanes forward Jiri Tlusty getting the nod from the league.

Fasth went 3-0-0 with a 1.89 goals-against average and .935 save percentage last week; the 30-year-old relative unknown is a remarkable 8-0-0 this season.

Tlusty, 24, had four goals and two assists last week in three straight Carolina victories. The 13th overall pick in the 2006 draft was especially good Monday against the Islanders when he notched two goals and had a pair of helpers.