NEW YORK - Left-winger Alex Ovechkin, who registered six points in three games for the Washington Capitals, was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday.
Atlanta Thrashers centre Bryan Little and Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick captured the second and third star honours respectively.
Ovechkin recorded five goals and an assist as the Capitals (23-11-3) won all three games to extend their Southeast Division lead to 10 points.
He had two goals and an assist as Washington rallied from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime on Dec. 23. Ovechkin added the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, then scored twice in a 4-1 decision Sunday against Toronto.
Ovechkin has 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) in his last 28 games and is second in NHL scoring with 49 points (25 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games.
Little had an NHL-high six goals last week, including two in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders on Dec. 23. He recorded his first NHL hat trick in a 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday before recording Atlanta's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday night.
Little, Atlanta's first pick (12th overall) in the 2006 Entry Draft, had a team-high 18 goals and is fourth in club scoring with 30 points.
Quick posted a 2-1-0 record, 0.67 goals-against average and .958 save percentage with two shutouts in three games for the Kings.
He stopped 24 shots for his first NHL shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 23, then made 24 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday. Quick then turned aside 26 shots in a 4-0 victory over the Coyotes the following night.