Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk finalists for NHL most valuable player award

Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk finalists for Hart

NEW YORK — Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is a finalist for a second straight Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.

Fellow Russians Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings were also among the finalists announced by the league Wednesday.

The winner will be revealed June 18 at the NHL awards show in Las Vegas.

Ovechkin led the league in goals this season with 56, and could become the first repeat winner of the Hart since Dominik Hasek in 1997-98. Ovechkin finished three points shy of becoming the NHL’s first repeat scoring champion since Jaromir Jagr in 2000-01.

Malkin was runner-up for the Hart Trophy last year and has already won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in scoring with 113 points.

Datsyuk is considered by many the league’s most complete player after finishing fourth in scoring with 97 points. He is also a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward, both of which he won last year.