Player of the Week - Feb. 25

The Hockey News Player of the Week for the period of Feb. 18-24 is Buffalo Sabres left winger Thomas Vanek.

The swift Austrian sniped four goals and seven points over three games, as the Sabres earned four valuable points in their playoff push over that stretch.

Vanek single-handedly brought his team back from the brink of defeat against Tampa Bay, scoring two goals in the final three minutes of the game, then popping the game-winner in overtime to complete the comeback and natural hat trick.

The $10-million man is atoning for a slow start with his torrid pace of late. The 24-year-old Vanek, in his third NHL season, has 11 goals and 15 points over his past nine games. That brings his season totals to 26 goals and 48 points in 62 games.