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All-NHL Team of the Week: Mar. 23-Mar. 30

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Highlighting the best weekly performers from around the NHL to comprise an All-NHL team.

By Hennessey_Alex
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Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Only a handful of games remain in the regular season and the intensity just keeps ramping up game by game as teams battle it out for the final playoff positions. There is only more week of the All-NHL team after this and then it's time for the big end of the season review so buckle down and get ready to take in the best of the best of this week's NHL action.

Left Wing

1. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars: 4G-1A-5P in 4GP

Game 1 vs. Buffalo: 2G-1A-3P, 0+/-, 8 shots, 19:35 TOI

Result: 4-3 Win

Game 2 at Calgary: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 7 shots, 21:56 TOI

Result: 4-3 SO Win

Game 3 at Edmonton: 0G-0A-0P, -2, 1 shot, 19:32 TOI

Result: 4-0 Loss

Game 4 at Vancouver: 1G-0A-1P, +2, 4 shots, 21:59 TOI

Result: 4-3 OT Win

2. Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers: 2G-4A-6P in 4GP

Game 1 at Tampa Bay: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 8 shots, 19:18 TOI

Result: 4-3 Loss

Game 2 at Toronto: 1G-0A-1P, +2, 2 shots, 14:43 TOI

Result: 4-1 Win

Game 3 at Montreal: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 1 shot, 17:56 TOI

Result: 3-2 OTL

Game 4 at Ottawa: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 19:28 TOI

Result: 4-2 Win

3. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche: 2G-4A-6P in 4GP

Game 1 at Calgary: 1G-1A-2P, -1, 2 shots, 21:07 TOI

Result: 3-2 Loss

Game 2 at Edmonton: 0G-1A-1P, +1, 2 shots, 18:53 TOI

Result: 4-3 Loss

Game 3 at Vancouver: 1G-1A-2P, +2, 6 shots, 15:33 TOI

Result: 4-1 Win

Game 4 vs. Buffalo: 0G-1A-1P, -2, 0 shots, 19:32 TOI

Result: 5-3 Win

Rankings Analysis: You have to wonder what the Western Conference playoff picture would look like had Dallas not lost Tyler Seguin for those three weeks in February. Stars Captain Jamie Benn is on pace for a second consecutive 30 goal season and it's the second year in a row he has produced at nearly a point per game clip. Dallas has gone 8-2-0 in its last 10 games but it would appear to be too little too late even with Benn on fire goalscoring wise. The Panther suffered a huge blow to their outside chances of making the playoffs when Nick Bjugstad was shutdown for the season but this Florida team has a ton of young talent and should be very good for years to come. Huberdeau has set career highs in goals (13), assists (36), and points (49) this season and is riding a four-game point streak. Along with Dallas, Colorado seems to be the victim of playing in the toughest division in hockey. The Av's look likely to miss the playoffs this year after finishing 2nd in the conference last season. Landeskog and Co. will use the final seven games of the regular season to make life hell for the teams still fighting for positioning.

Center

1. Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche: 1G-7A-8P in 4GP

Game 1 at Calgary: 0G-2A-2P, -1, 2 shots, 21:31 TOI

Result: 3-2 Loss

Game 2 at Edmonton: 1G-2A-3P, +1, 6 shots, 20:21 TOI

Result: 4-3 Loss

Game 3 at Vancouver: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 18:44 TOI

Result: 4-1 Win

Game 4 vs. Buffalo: 0G-1A-1P, -2, 1 shot, 19:29 TOI

Result: 5-3 Win

2. Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild: 3G-2A-5P in 4GP

Game 1 at Toronto: 0G-0A-0P, 0+/-, 2 shots, 18:49 TOI

Result: 2-1 Win

Game 2 at New York (Islanders): 0G-1A-1P, +1, 0 shots, 19:36 TOI

Result: 2-1 Win

Game 3 vs. Calgary: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 2 shots, 18:14 TOI, GWG

Result: 4-2 Win

Game 4 vs. Los Angeles: 2G-1A-3P, +3, 2 shots, 17:04 TOI, GWG

Result: 4-1 Win

3. Mike Ribeiro, Nashville Predators: 2G-4A-6P in 4GP

Game 1 vs. Montreal: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 20:20 TOI

Result: 3-2 OT Win

Game 2 at Tampa Bay: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 1 shot, 16:36 TOI

Result: 3-2 Win

Game 3 at Washington: 1G-1A-2P, +2, 2 shots, 13:05 TOI, GWG

Result: 4-3 Win

Game 4 vs. Calgary: 0G-1A-1P, -2, 0 shots, 23:55 TOI

Result: 5-2 Loss

Ranking Analysis: The second Avalanche player to make the team this week, Ryan O'Reilly, again makes you wonder how it is possible that Colorado won't be making the playoffs this year. There is much documented question about O'Reilly's future in the Mile High City being that he is playing behind stars like Landeskog, Matt Duchene, and Nathan MacKinnon and having eclipsed the 50 point mark in three of the past four seasons that question could be answered this off-season. Mikko Koivu is a polarizing player among Wild fans. The Minnesota Captain and No.1 center is loved by many for his defensive prowess and complete two-way game while others are quick to point out his underwhelming offensive numbers as his biggest criticism. This week Koivu only has supporters in the state of hockey after racking up five points in four games including two game-winning goals. Not much was said this off-season when Nashville signed Ribeiro to a contract but more people should take notice of what he has brought to the Preds. Ribeiro has a +12 rating and 60 points in 77 games for the Central Division leaders.

Right Wing

1. Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets: 4G-3A-7P in 3GP

Game 1 vs. Anaheim: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 1 shot, 16:58 TOI

Result: 5-3 Win

Game 2 at Chicago: 3G-0A-3P, +3, 6 shots, 15:34 TOI

Result: 5-2 Win

Game 3 at St. Louis: 1G-1A-2P, +2, 2 shots, 13:55 TOI

Result: 4-2 Win

2. Radim Vrbata, Vancouver Canucks: 3G-2A-5P in 3GP

Game 1 vs. Winnipeg: 2G-1A-3P, +2, 7 shots, 14:46 TOI, GWG

Result: 5-2 Win

Game 2 vs. Colorado: 0G-0A-0P, 0+/-, 5 shots, 17:43 TOI

Result: 4-1 Loss

Game 3 vs. Dallas: 1G-1A-2P, 0+/-, 6 shots, 19:34 TOI

Result: 4-2 OTL

3. Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers: 2G-3A-5P in 4GP

Game 1 at Tampa Bay: 0G-1A-1P, 0+/-, 4 shots, 17:13 TOI

Result: 4-3 Loss

Game 2 at Toronto: 0G-1A-1P, +2, 1 shot, 13:44 TOI

Result: 4-1 Win

Game 3 at Montreal: 0G-1A-1P, +1, 4 shots, 17:49 TOI

Result: 3-2 OTL

Game 4 at Ottawa: 2G-0A-2P, +1, 4 shots, 17:41 TOI, GWG

Result: 4-2 Win

Ranking Analysis: No one in the NHL had a better week than Cam Atkinson. Atkinson went off recording seven points in three games including a hat-trick against Chicago. The Blue Jackets played the role of spoiler for top Western Conference teams knocking off Chicago and St. Louis on the road to delight of Minnesota Wild fans everywhere. Radim Vrbata is one of the most underrated forwards in the NHL. There weren't many who predicted the Canucks to make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference especially after missing out last year and trading No.2 center Ryan Kesler. Vrbata has been a huge help to Vancouver's success this season, already recording 30 goals, and fitting in very nice on the top line with the Sedin twins. Jaromir Jagr might be the most overlooked trade deadline pick up this year. While Florida probably isn't going to make the playoffs despite adding the legendary winger, Jagr has put 4G-8A-12P in 14 games for the Panthers down the stretch.

Defensemen

1. Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets: 3G-0A-3P in 2GP

Game 1 vs. Montreal: 1G-0A-1P, +1, 1 shot, 18:29 TOI

Result: 5-2 Win

Game 2 vs. Chicago: 2G-0A-2P, -1, 5 shots, 22:09 TOI

Result: 4-3 Loss

2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes: 1G-3A-4P in 3GP

Game 1 at Detroit: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 4 shots, 30:21 TOI

Result: 5-4 OT Win

Game 2 at Buffalo: 1G-1A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 28:15 TOI

Result: 4-3  OT Win

Game 3 at Pittsburgh: 0G-0A-0P, -1, 2 shots, 26:02 TOI

Result: 3-2 Loss

3. Matt Niskanen, Washington Capitals: 0G-4A-4P in 3GP

Game 1 vs. New Jersey: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 1 shot, 21:57 TOI

Result: 3-2 OT Win

Game 2 vs. Nashville: 0G-1A-1P, 0+/-, 1 shot, 20:10 TOI

Result: 4-3 Loss

Game 3 at New York (Rangers): 0G-1A-1P, 0+/-, 0 shots, 22:17 TOI

Result: 5-2 Win

4. Yannick Weber, Vancouver Canucks: 2G-0A-2P in 3GP

Game 1 vs. Winnipeg: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 1 shot, 19:35 TOI,

Result: 5-2 Win

Game 2 vs. Colorado: 1G-0A-1P, -1, 3 shots, 22:09 TOI

Result: 4-1 Loss

Game 3 vs. Dallas: 0G-0A-0P, 0+/-, 2 shots, 21:05 TOI

Result: 4-2 OTL

Ranking Analysis: The Big Bump retuned in a big way for Winnipeg scoring three times in his first two games back. Byfuglien is as important to the Jets as any other star player in the league. What Buff brings to the table is terms of size, sheer strength and power, and versatility to Winnipeg is unmatched anywhere else in the league. The Jets would not be in a playoff position with the leadership and on-ice contributions from Byfuglien. OEL is among the best young defensemen in the game today, and while Arizona wasn't been competitive this season, that could all change in the very near future especially with the Coyotes likely to secure a top selection in the very deep 2015 draft. Yannick Weber has been quite the find for Vancouver. The right-shot defensemen acquired from Montreal at last year's trade deadline has paid dividends this as of late by consistently logging 18-20 mins of TOI a night and putting up points along with that.

Goaltender

1. Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild: 4-0-0 with 4GA in 4GP

Game 1 at Toronto: 35 saves, 1GA, .972 SV%

Result: 2-1 Win

Game 2 at New York (Islanders): 37 saves, 1GA, .974 SV%

Result: 2-1 Win

Game 3 vs. Calgary: 23 saves, 2GA, .920 SV%

Result: 4-2 Win

Game 4 vs. Los Angeles: 31 saves, 1GA, .969 SV%

Result: 4-1 Win

Ranking Analysis: Doooooooooooooobs. Seriously how good has this guy been this year? The Wild played back-to-back games twice this week and relied on Dubnyk in net for all four games and Doobie was up for the challenge. The Wild survived the back-to-back at Toronto and New York because Dubnyk was able to turn away wave after wave of offensive pressure. Then Minnesota went home to the X for two more games on a back-to-back, this time against Western Conference teams fighting for a Wild Card spot, and Dubnyk shut the door again. Dubnyk won't get the recognition he deserves for the Hart and Vezina trophies for all the wrong reasons: he split time between two teams, this is his first great season statistically, and he hasn't played as many games as the other guys. Forget the individual accolades because this guy has been nothing short of amazing, completely turning the Wild's season around, and he should be the man in goal in the state of hockey for years to come.

All-NHL Team of the Week

Benn-O'Reilly-Atkinson
Huberdeau-Koivu-Vrbata
Landeskog-Ribeiro-Jagr

OEL-Byfuglien
Weber-Niskanen

Dubnyk

Cast a vote in the poll below for this week's extra-attacker and leave a comment with your reasoning if you feel up to it.

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