Ovechkin is top NHL player of the week

NEW YORK, March 10 (UPI) -- Washington's Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 95 points, was selected top star of last week's NHL action.

The league selected three players to honor as players of the week. Along with Ovechkin, the NHL on Monday picked New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur and San Jose center Joe Thornton for their play in games March 3-9.

Ovechkin last week reached the 50-goal mark for the second time in his three NHL seasons. He attained that mark with a hat trick and two assists in a 10-2 Capitals rout of the Boston Bruins. He had two goals and three assists in the Capitals' other three games last week. His 95 points -- 54 goals and 41 assists -- is tops in the NHL.

Brodeur won all three of his games last week and had a goals-against average of 0.98. He is second this season among NHL goaltenders with 38 wins.

Thornton piled up seven points with two goals and five assists in four games while the Sharks extended their winning streak to a franchise-record nine games.