Every point matters.

That's clear in today's NHL, where all but a few teams remain within striking distance of a playoff spot.

As such, here are three players you want on the roster when the stakes are highest.

Vanek at the shootout

If you want to win a shootout, you call on Thomas Vanek.

That's what the Detroit Red Wings have discovered, at any rate.

In five shootout attempts this season, Vanek has made good on each; only teammate Henrik Zetterberg comes close to matching that success rate, going three-for-three in the game-deciding skills competition.

While the extra points earned won't do much for a Detroit team about to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1991, Vanek's shootout mastery may come in handy for teams down the stretch, should he indeed be moved prior to the March 1 trade deadline.

Jeff 'The Fourth Period' Carter

Forget the shootout, though. It is, in truth, a bit of a crapshoot.

Where players really rise to the occasion is in actual play, or, in the case of regular-season overtime sessions, at three-on-three. And this season, nobody has risen to the occasion quite like Jeff Carter of the Los Angeles Kings.

Carter ranks second in the NHL this season with 30 goals, four of which have come in overtime, the most among any player. He has an additional five game-winning goals, but it's the overtime ones which are most clutch, seeing as there's no coming back from the opposition at that point.

If the Kings can squeak into the playoffs, this propensity of delivering when the stakes are highest could come in quite handy indeed.

Matthews quick out the gate

Chasing hockey is losing hockey, as the saying goes.

Scoring the game's opening goal, then, is of utmost importance, and no player has recorded more this season than Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Eleven of the rookie sensation's 30 goals have been the first goals scored in a game, with Sidney Crosby (10), Cam Atkinson, P.A. Parenteau, and Jonathan Toews rounding out the top five with eight apiece.

And when the Maple Leafs score first, their record is 23-5-7; those 23 wins are good for a share of eight-most among the 30 NHL teams.

On top of that, another six of Matthews' goals have come with the score tied, ranking him high in that category as well.

Overtime and shootouts goals clearly decide games, but don't sleep on the opening goal, which can be just as important.

(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)

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