Alex Ovechkin tallied five goals and one assist last week for the Washington Capitals. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Washington Capitals left-winger Alex Ovechkin was named the NHL's first star of the week on Monday.
The Russian sniper tallied five goals and one assist last week, including three points (two goals, one assist) as Washington overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime on Dec. 23.
Ovechkin also scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 26 and recorded a pair of goals, including the game-winner, as the Capitals defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 Dec. 28.
Ovechkin has 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) in his past 28 games. He ranks second in NHL scoring with 49 points (25 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games.
Atlanta Thrashers centre Bryan Little was the second star.
Little scored a league-leading six goals last week, beginning with a pair in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Dec. 23. He tallied his first NHL hat trick in a 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 26 and finished the week by scoring in Atlanta's 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Dec. 28.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick was the third star.
Quick posted a 2-1-0 record with a 0.67 goals-against average, .958 save percentage and two shutouts in three games.
The Kings netminder recorded his first NHL shutout by making 24 saves in a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 23 and blocked 26 shots in a 4-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Dec. 27.
Quick was recalled from the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' American Hockey League affiliate, on Dec. 16.
