New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Kovalev was selected as the NHL's top star for the period ending March 29. Joining Kovalev for the league honors this week were Chicago netminder Nikolai Khabibulin and St. Louis forward David Backes. Kovalev led all scorers last week with nine points -- two goals and seven assists -- in three games, all Montreal wins. The Canadiens alternate captain posted multi-point games in each contest, tallying four points (one goal, three assists) in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 4. In 74 games this season, Kovalev is second on the team in scoring with 24 goals and 63 points. Khabibulin posted a 3-0-0 record with a 0.66 goals against average last week for the Blackhawks, stopping 61-of-63 shots overall. He also posted one shutout, as Chicago clinched its first playoff berth since the 2001-02 season. The goaltender's best effort came on April 3, recording 20 saves in a 1-0 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. That win improved Khabibulin's record to 23-8-6 with a 2.39 GAA this season in 39 appearances. Backes earned the third star after scoring a league-high five goals in two games for the Blues. He recorded four goals on nine shots in a crucial 5-4 victory over the Red Wings, keeping St. Louis in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. He added a goal and an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Stars on April 4, and the Blues are currently tied for the eighth playoff spot with 86 points and three games remaining.
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