Player of the Week - Oct. 19

Is it any surprise Alex Ovechkin leads the league in scoring? (Getty Images)

The Hockey News player of the week for the period of October 12-18 is Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin.

The league leader in goals and points, Ovechkin tickled the twine four times and added two assists for six points in three games on the week.

In a 3-2 shootout loss to the Devils, Ovechkin was held without a goal, but was a plus-2 with seven shots in 24:31 of ice time, his most this season. Against San Jose, the sniper notched the game-winner in a 4-1 triumph and then Ovie capped off the week with two goals against Nashville, plus a beautiful shootout-winner past Dan Ellis to give the Caps a 3-2 win.

Ovechkin has played at least 20 minutes in each game so far this season and his 16 points in eight games has him three ahead of second in the scoring race, Joe Thornton.

The Capitals play twice on the road this week, when they visit the lowly New York Islanders and the surprising Atlanta Thrashers, who are two points behind Washington with three games in hand.