Crosby takes NHL weekly honor

NEW YORK, April 12 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby piled up 15 points in the final week of the season and was selected the NHL's No. 1 star of the week.

Also honored for play April 5-11 -- the final week of the NHL regular season -- were Carolina center Eric Staal and Washington center Nicklas Backstrom.

Crosby had four goals in the final four games of the Penguins' regular season and, with Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, earned a share of the Rocket Richard Trophy, given to the season's leading goal scorer. Crosby and Stamkos each had 51 goals.

Crosby also had 11 assists in the final week, allowing him to finish tied for second in the NHL with 109 points, three behind Vancouver's Henrik Stenson.

Staal had nine points -- five goals and four assists -- in the Hurricanes' final week. He had a hat trick and assisted on two other goals in a 5-2 win over Montreal in Carolina's final home game.

Backstrom collected three goals and six assists last week and reached the 100-point mark for the season for the first time in his career. His 101 points was fourth in the NHL behind Stenson and Crosby and Capitals teammate Alex Ovechkin.