Ranking the 10 Biggest Performances in the NHL so Far This Season

There have been some outstanding performances in the 2014-15 NHL season so far. 

About a quarter of the way into the year, players have either helped themselves or their teams to the top of the highlights and the standings this season.

Whether it's a dazzling shutout by a skilled goalie, a sniper lighting the lamp consistently or a playmaker dishing the puck for an endless amount of helpers, they're all on this list.

Here are 10 of the biggest performances thus far in 2014-15.

10. Pascal Dupuis (PIT) Returns from Injury

Pittsburgh winger Pascal Dupuis missed the majority of the 2013-14 season after tearing his ACL last December.

The Penguins season opener this year against the Anaheim Ducks was the first game for new Pittsburgh head coach Mike Johnston and the first for Dupuis since his injury.

Dupuis sent the Pittsburgh fans home happy and gave Johnston his first victory with the club, producing a sparkling four-point game (one goal, three assists) in the team's 6-4 opening-night win.

9. Mark Giordano (CGY) Leading the Way on Defense

It's hard to argue that there's been a better offensive defensemen in the league this year than the Calgary Flames' Mark Giordano.

He currently sits in sixth in the league with 21 points heading into Tuesday night's games.

Giordano is in the midst of a nine-game point streak, with his three-point night against the Florida Panthers in the video above being a highlight.

8. Jori Lehtera (STL) Hat Trick Against Buffalo Sabres

Lehtera took a long road to the NHL. After becoming the Blues' first-round pick in 2008, it took six years for the center to make his NHL debut. He hasn't disappointed this season.

Lehtera recorded his first career hat trick last week in a 6-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, earning himself the NHL's first star of the week for the second week of November.

7. Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) Enjoys First Career Hat Trick

The St. Louis Blues needed all of Tarasenko's first career hat trick. The final marker was the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime defeat of the Dallas Stars on Oct. 28.

Tarasenko is in the midst of a breakout season, currently sixth in the NHL with 21 points heading into Tuesday's games.

With the help of Tarasenko and Lehtera, the Blues currently rank first in the tough Central Division with 25 points.

6. Rick Nash Announces He's Back

Rick Nash became a villain in New York last season. During the team's playoff run to the Stanley Cup Final, Nash was terrible, recording just three goals in 25 games. 

He's made it a point to show that last season's playoff run was just an aberration. The winger has exploded for 12 goals in 18 games this year, leading the league in that category heading into Tuesday's games.

The scoring onslaught began against the St. Louis Blues in the Rangers' opening game. Nash scored two, including the game-winning goal, and added an assist in a 3-2 victory.

Nash's resurgence is key for a second trip to the Stanley Cup Final for New York.

5. Sidney Crosby (PIT) Records Five Assists Against Buffalo

It's really hard to keep Crosby off any lists like this.

There's no doubt he's the best player in the league. The reigning Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner had an amazing night on Nov. 8 in a 6-1 trouncing of the lowly Buffalo Sabres. His five assists had him one away from tying the team record of six by Mario Lemieux.

Pittsburgh leads the Metropolitan Division heading into Tuesday night's games.

4. Filip Forsberg (NSH) Carries Rookie Class

No rookie has dazzled as much as Filip Forsberg this season. The video above, a three-point night against the Edmonton Oilers in a 3-2 win on Nov. 11, has been a typical performance for the young winger this season.

Heading into Tuesday night's games, Forsberg leads the league in plus/minus at plus-19 and ranks 10th in points with 20.

Nashville has reaped the benefits, sitting in second place so far in the tough Central Division.

3. Jakub Voracek (PHI) Is the Assist Master

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Consider this entry a season-long award for Voracek. There aren't too many games that stand out for the young Philadelphia Flyers winger, mainly because Voracek has been so consistently outstanding.

He currently tops the league in points with 26 and has earned a point in all but one game this season.

Voracek paces the field in assists, having recorded at least two helpers in six games this season.

2. Steven Stamkos (TBL) Ties Franchise Record with Hat Trick

Stamkos usually can be found on any top-10 list. This one is no different.

His lone hat trick of the season earns a spot here. Not only did he record the game-winning goal during that Oct. 13 performance, a 7-1 demolition of Montreal, Stamkos tied the franchise record of eight hat tricks with Martin St. Louis.

Tampa Bay trails only Montreal in points this season heading into Tuesday night's games.

1. Carey Price (MTL) Shuts out Red-Hot Jets (3-0)

Carey Price has bolstered the Montreal Canadiens to the top of the NHL with a strong string of performances as of late. None of them was more impressive than last week's 3-0 shutout of the Winnipeg Jets, who hadn't lost a game in regulation in nearly three weeks.

Price made 29 saves in the contest, marking his first shutout of the season.

"[Price] was spectacular again for us, as usual," Canadiens' forward Tomas Plekanec said, via Sam Farrell of NHL.com. "It wasn't a perfect game for us. We had some problems executing our plays but at the end of the day we managed to score three goals."