Japers' Rink, a Washington Capitals community

"[Alex] Ovechkin has been named the best player in the NHL in a vote of his Russian peers, a vote of his NHL peers (the Sporting News Player of the Year), a vote of NHL journalists (USA Today panel), The Hockey News and by Phil Esposito (the NHL Home Ice Espo Award).

"Any doubt who takes home the big prizes at the NHL Awards Show next week?"

In a poll of 292 players, Alex Ovechkin became the first back-to-back winner [of Sporting News' player of the year award] since Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr (1999-2000). The top three:
1. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals 147
2. Evgeni Malkin, Penguins 65
3. Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings 23

"The only defenceman for the Washington Capitals is [Mike] Green and and he should win the Norris because he has no help on the blueline. Milan Jurcina is the second highest scoring defenceman on the Capitals with 14 points and the Bruins gave him away. Tom Poti is the third highest scoring defenceman with 13 points. Green is +24 on a team without a goaltender."

"Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is piling up the points but doesn't seem to be piling up support in the Hart Trophy race.

"In USA TODAY's latest NHL Power Rankings vote, Malkin is ranked No. 2 to the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin for MVP, even though he has a 10-point lead in the scoring race.
...

"In USA TODAY balloting, Ovechkin received 10 of 11 first-place votes. The New Jersey Devils' Zach Parise got the other."