Friday, June 19, 2009
By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/penguins/
LAS VEGAS -- Washington Capitals outgoing left winger Alex Ovechkin stole the NHL Awards show last night, winning the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award as the players' choice for most outstanding player.
Ryan Remiorz/Associated Press/Canadian Press
Penguins center Evgeni Malkin poses with the Art Ross Trophy and the Conn Smythe trophy at the NHL awards show in Las Vegas last night. Malkin finished second to Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin for the Hart Trophy.
That did not bother Penguins center Evgeni Malkin much. He was a finalist for both awards and runner-up to Ovechkin for the second year in a row, but was still walking on air less than a week after he led his team to the Stanley Cup championship.
"My dream was to win the Stanley Cup. I'm not thinking about MVP. I know I won the Stanley Cup. I'm happy," said Malkin, who carried the Cup during the red carpet procession leading into the Pearl Theater at the Palms Resort and Casino.
Ovechkin garnered 115 of 133 first-place votes in Hart balloting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Malkin received 12 first-place votes, 71 second-place votes and 787 points. Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk had four first-place votes and 404 points.
If anything, Ovechkin was a bit jealous of Malkin.
"It's pretty important when people and players give you this trust," Ovechkin said. "I don't want to stop. I want to be the best next year. I want to be in the same situation Pittsburgh is in. Personal stats are good. Personal awards are good, but I just want to win one award, the Stanley Cup."
Malkin was formally was presented with the Art Ross Trophy for winning the regular-season scoring title with 113 points. He also was named the center on the NHL first-team all-star team.
Those go along with the Conn Smythe Trophy he won as playoff MVP after leading the postseason with 36 points.
Ryan Remiorz/Associated Press/Canadian Press
Evgeni Malkin signs autographs as he arrives for the NHL awards show.
Datsyuk, the third finalist for the Hart and Pearson awards, also had a bigger night than Malkin. He won his second consecutive Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward and his fourth Lady Byng Trophy in a row for sportsmanship and skill.
Malkin admitted beforehand to being anxious, but not about winning.
"I'm nervous," he said. "My English is not good.
"But it's fun. It's OK. We won the Stanley Cup. I won the [Art] Ross, Conn Smythe Trophy. It's OK.
Malkin did not have to say anything the first time he walked on stage. He and linemate Max Talbot, the hero with two goals in the Game 7 win against Detroit in the final, carried the Cup on stage, accompanied by Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, early in the show.
Malkin's other appearance at the podium came when he accepted the Art Ross Trophy and Ovechkin accepted the Maurice Richard Trophy for leading the regular season with 56 goals.
Malkin again expressed nervousness over his English, then haltingly thanked the Penguins and his parents.
Ovechkin, using Malkin's nickname, then joked, 'Well, Geno, your English is better than Pavel Datsyuk's English."
In addition to the Hart and Pearson awards, Ovechkin, who was second to Malkin with 110 points in the regular season, was another member of the first all-star team.
It was the first time all three Hart finalists were Russian.
Ryan Remiorz/Associated Press/Canadian Press
Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin poses with the Hart Trophy, center, the Lester B. Pearson Award, left, and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.
The Penguins' Sidney Crosby was the third-team all-star center. He also was a finalist for two awards -- the first Fan Fav Award, an MVP-type honor decided by a fan vote, which went to Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo; and the Mark Messier Leadership Award, which went to Jarome Iginla of Calgary.
As for Malkin, he planned to remain in Las Vegas today, go to Florida for a short vacation, then home to Russia for the summer, where he is anticipating a huge celebration in his hometown of Magnitogorsk when he gets his day with the Stanley Cup.
"I had a great season and the team had a great season, but I [need to] rest now," he said. "I feel awesome. I celebrated a couple days and I was so tired. Now I rest."
Malkin was joined on the first all-star team by Ovechkin and Iginla at winger, Washington's Mike Green and Boston's Zdeno Chara on defense and Boston's Tim Thomas at goaltender.
First published on June 19, 2009 at 12:00 am
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