The NHL's Team of the Week for February 16

With three weeks to go until the 2015 NHL trade deadline, high-profile players have begun to be shuffled into their new homes for this year's playoff run.

As hockey fans keep one eye glued to the transaction wire, the on-ice action is also heating up. Teams are jockeying for position in the playoff race, while individual players are turning up their games, preparing for the postseason or jockeying for individual awards or personal bests.

Our Team of the Week is based on the best individual performances at each position from Monday to Sunday—in this case, Feb. 9-15. Individual stats matter, but so does a player's impact on his team's success.

Here's the NHL Team of the Week for Feb. 16.

Left Wing: Anders Lee

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Last Week's Stats

3 GP, 2-5-7, 1 game-winning goal

 

Why He Impressed

As the 2014-15 NHL season heads into the stretch drive, a number of unsung rookies are drawing attention for their contributions to their teams.

One of those rookies is 24-year-old Anders Lee, now playing on the New York Islanders' top line with John Tavares and Josh Bailey.

After Tavares' regular right winger, Kyle Okposo, went down with an eye injury before the All-Star break, Jack Capuano's new-look first line has exploded offensively over the last week.

The Islanders have won their last four games and now sit just one point out of top spot in the Eastern Conference. As Lee settles into his new situation, his two goals this week give him 18—one behind rookie scoring leaders Filip Forsberg and Mike Hoffman.

 

Honorable Mentions

• Rick Nash, New York Rangers (3 GP, 2-4-6)
• Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (3 GP, 3-3-6)

Center: Jeff Carter

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Last Week's Stats

3 GP, 1-5-6

Why He Impressed

When the Los Angeles Kings sputtered on the road coming out of the All-Star break, it started to look like the 2014 Stanley Cup champions might not even make it into the playoffs this season.

Will we ever learn? The Kings don't do anything the easy way.

After four straight wins, Los Angeles is now just three points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference, thanks in large part to a new-look That '70s Line.

With Tanner Pearson on the shelf with a broken leg, No. 74 Dwight King has stepped in as the new linemate for right winger Tyler Toffoli and setup man Jeff Carter.

The '70s-style purple-and-gold throwback jerseys brought out the best in the high-numbered forward line. Carter was one of the top-producing forwards of the week at a time when the Kings need every win they can muster.

Honorable Mentions

• Kevin Hayes, New York Rangers (3 GP, 3-2-5)
• Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks (4 GP, 1-5-6)

Right Wing: Marian Hossa

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Last Week's Stats

4 GP, 5-1-6

Why He Impressed

At the end of last week, Marian Hossa snapped at five-game goalless drought on Feb. 8 with two tallies, including the game-winner, in the Chicago Blackhawks' 4-2 win over the division rival St. Louis Blues.

Since then, Hossa has stayed hot, adding five more goals this week to give him 17 on the year. His two third-period tallies against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 11 electrified the United Center and helped salvage a point, as the Hawks forced overtime after rebounding from 3-1 and 4-2 deficits.

Hossa's four-game goal streak marks the first time all season that he has scored in any back-to-back games. He appears to be getting hot at just the right time of year.

Honorable Mentions

• Tyler Toffoli, Los Angels Kings (3 GP, 4-2-6)
• Josh Bailey, New York Islanders (3 GP, 3-2-5)

Defense: Erik Karlsson

USA TODAY Sports

Last Week's Stats

3 GP, 1-4-5, 8 shots, plus-three

Why He Impressed

Though Erik Karlsson's Ottawa Senators sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, nine points out of a wild-card spot, the first-year captain is enjoying another strong season.

After a five-point week, the 2012 Norris Trophy winner sits just one point behind team leader Bobby Ryan in the Senators' team standings. His 40 points also has him near the top of the ranks of the NHL's highest-scoring defensemen, alongside names such as Dustin Byfuglien, Shea Weber, Kevin Shattenkirk and Keith Yandle.

Karlsson currently ranks third in the NHL in ice time, averaging 27:04 per game. At just 24, he's at least a couple of years from reaching peak form. With his Achilles injury now two years behind him, Karlsson's smooth skating is once again becoming his calling card. It won't do the Senators much good this season, but he's a tantalizing talent.

Honorable mentions for defense appear on the next slide.

Defense: Brent Burns

Don Smith/Getty Images

Last Week's Stats

4 GP, 4-1-5, 20 shots, even plus/minus

Why He Impressed

Brent Burns' four goals this week give him 15 on the season, which leads all blueliners. Now tied with Kris Letang and Mark Giordano for the scoring lead among defensemen with 44 points, he's just four points shy of his career best, set last season when he was patrolling the wing for the San Jose Sharks.

Since being moved back to defense to start the 2014-15 campaign, the 29-year-old mountain man is playing the best hockey of his career. He's still prone to occasional gaffes but makes up for those mistakes in other aspects of his game.

Honorable Mentions

• Shea Weber, Nashville Predators (3 GP, 1-3-4, 10 shots, plus-two)
• Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild (4 GP, 1-3-4, 5 shots, plus-one)

Goal: Pekka Rinne

USA TODAY Sports

Last Week's Stats

3-0-0, 4 goals against, .954 save percentage

Why He Impressed

Pekka Rinne's name was in the Hart Trophy discussion as the NHL's most valuable player before he missed eight games due to a mid-January knee injury.

Rinne's Nashville Predators survived his absence, going 4-2-2, but they've returned to their dominant form as their MVP has settled back into his crease.

After allowing just one goal to the Winnipeg Jets and New Jersey Devils last week, the Preds now hold the NHL's longest current winning streak (five games) and are four points clear of the Anaheim Ducks at the top of the league standings.

A note about this week's honorable mentions: There are goaltenders who posted better raw numbers last week, but none boosted their teams' fortunes more than Cam Talbot of the New York Rangers. With workhorse Henrik Lundqvist unexpectedly sidelined, Talbot has stepped in admirably, for which the backup deserves enormous credit.

Honorable Mentions

• Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens (2-0-0, 2 goals against, .962 save percentage)
• Cam Talbot, New York Rangers (3-0-0, 8 goals against, .918 save percentage)

Coach: Darryl Sutter

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Last Week's Stats 

3-0-0, 12 goals for, 7 goals against

Why He Impressed

Just two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Kings' chances of making the playoffs had dropped to 30.9 percent, according to SportsClubStats.

Never say never when it comes to the Kings. After four straight wins and a new burst of goal scoring, Los Angeles now sits just three points out of a wild-card spot, while their playoff odds have climbed to 53.6 percent.

L.A.'s odds are now better than those of the Minnesota Wild, who sit a point ahead of them, and the San Jose Sharks, who currently hold second place in the Pacific Division.

Time after time, the Kings have triumphed in the most impossible situations—winning their first Stanley Cup in 2012 after finishing eighth in the Western Conference, then rebounding to win three straight Game 7s on their way to a second Cup last season.

Coach Darryl Sutter's the architect of that belief system—a quirky character who gets the most out of his players when they face the greatest adversity, always believing that they can find a way.

It looks like Sutter's amping up for another epic performance this spring.

Honorable Mentions

• Peter Laviolette, Nashville Predators (3-0-0)
• Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers (3-0-0)

All stats courtesy of NHL.com.