FORWARDS

Trending up: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings -- The Kings top center has been on a tear recently, with eight points in his past five games. Kopitar’s recent production could not have come at a better time for the Kings, as the defending Stanley Cup champs are battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Kopitar tallied the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining in Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Isles, allowing the Kings to jump ahead of the Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division.

Trending down: John Tavares, New York Islanders -- Kudos to Tavares, the precocious leader of the Islanders, for showing the type of accountability needed for his slumping team. Following Thursday’s loss to the Kings, in which he was on the ice for all three goals against, Tavares came out and told reporters that he has to be better. With only one goal in his past seven games, he’s right. And his team needs to follow suit.

Surprise of the week: Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks -- Most have written off the Sharks as they stumble through a seven-game road trip and fall further out of the playoff picture. But the Sharks have some fight left and the veterans are showing some pride, as Marleau finished with two goals and an assist to dispatch the Detroit Red Wings Thursday night, 6-4. Before that, Marleau was mired in a nine-game goal drought.

DEFENSEMEN

Trending up: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators -- It has been a breakout season for Josi, and the 24-year-old Predators defenseman continues to prove his offensive capabilities. With three goals and six points in his past six games -- giving him 53 points on the season -- Josi is now fourth in scoring among NHL defenseman.

Trending down: Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks -- The week started out roughly for Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, who watched Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets from the press box while serving as a healthy scratch. Fowler’s benching came after a 7-2 loss to the New York Rangers Sunday in which he was a minus-3. The good news? He bounced back in a big way with a pair of assists in his team’s 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins Thursday.

Surprise of the week: Deryk Engelland, Calgary Flames -- In the wake of captain Mark Giordano’s injury, Flames general manager Brad Treliving said that no one on the team could afford to hide in the shadows. And although tough guy Engelland is not known for his offensive skills, he chipped in with two goals Wednesday night in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. Every point for the Flames is critical, and Engelland helped secure one as his game-tying goal in the third period pushed the contest into overtime.

GOALTENDERS

Trending up: Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg Jets -- As much love as youngster Michael Hutchinson received earlier this season, Pavelec is now garnering the accolades as the steady presence between the pipes for the Jets. With a 39-save effort in Thursday’s 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens, Pavelec recorded his sixth consecutive win. Jets coach Paul Maurice has to be pleased: The Jets have won six of their past seven games to pull within one point of the Minnesota Wild for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Trending down: Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings -- Howard was not only pulled in the Red Wings’ loss to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, he appears to have lost his starting job in the process. Howard was yanked from the match after giving up three goals on nine shots. After the game, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock swung his support behind up-and-comer Petr Mrazek. Mrazek was named the starter for Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Consider this an interesting plot development with the playoffs just a few weeks away.

Surprise of the week: Andrew Hammond, Ottawa Senators -- It was surprising that he was handed a regulation loss. Hammond had such a sublime run -- and the legend of "the Hamburglar" has grown to such epic proportions -- that we must have forgotten he is not infallible. His stunning streak came to an end Thursday when he gave up five goals on 22 shots to the Rangers in the Senators’ 5-1 loss.