Photo: Patrick Smith

It’s been a good week for Capitals forward TJ Oshie. With five goals and three assists in the past four games, The Teej has played a pivotal role in two come-from-behind wins and helped make new Penguins coach Mike Sullivan’s first game behind the bench rather embarrassing for the flightless fowl.

The NHL recognized Oshie’s performance Monday by naming him the league’s second star of the week. Former Caps and current Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov and Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu were named first and third stars, respectively.

Don’t tell Pat and Ian, but Oshie’s game-tying second period goal against the Rangers on Sunday night put him on pace for 33 goals this year. That would be a career high.

More from the Caps:

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie has been named the NHL’s “Second Star” for the week ending Dec. 20, the NHL announced today.

Oshie paced the NHL with five goals and shared the League lead with eight points as the Capitals (24-6-2, 50 points) won all four of their games to move into first place in the overall standings. He opened the week with three points (two goals, one assist) in a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 14. After being held off the scoresheet in a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 16, Oshie responded with four points (two goals, two assists) – his third career four-point game and first since Jan. 3 at SJS (three goals, one assist) – in a 5-3 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 18. He finished the week with a goal in a 7-3 triumph over the New York Rangers on Dec. 20, the team’s second consecutive multi-goal comeback win. The Everett, Wash., native has registered 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) in 32 games this season and ranks second on the team in goals and power-play goals (4).