NEW YORK — Penguins star Sidney Crosby and Capitals counterpart Alex Ovechkin joined Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks as finalists for the Hart Trophy on Wednesday.
The winner of the league MVP award will be announced June 23 in Las Vegas.
Ovechkin is trying to become the first player to win three consecutive Hart Trophies since Wayne Gretzky won eight straight from 1980-87. Ovechkin scored 50 goals for the third straight season, but his team was upset by Montreal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Penguins' captain surpassed 50 goals in a season for the first time, leading his team into the conference semifinals Friday night against the Canadiens.