While the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins are still battling it out for the Stanley Cup, Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin has already begun collecting his awards and honors for a spectacular 2007-08 regular season.
Ovechkin was in Pittsburgh to receive the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading point scorer and the Maurice Richard Trophy for leading the league in goals. Ovechkin is also expected to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP during the annual Awards Ceremony in Toronto on June 12, and he's also the favorite to collect the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league's top player as voted by the players.
It was a truly overwhelming season from Ovechkin, who led the league with 65 goals and 112 points. His 65 goals were the highest single-season total since the great Mario Lemieux potted 69 in 1995-96. The 65 goals also established a new career-high for the Russian superstar, who scored 52 in his rookie season of 2005 before netting 46 last season. The 112 points marked his second career 100-point season, surpassing his rookie total of 106.
Ovechkin's true accomplishment, however, was leading the Washington Capitals back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Despite Ovechkin's best efforts, the Caps fell to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, losing Game Seven in overtime. The disappointing defeat did little to tarnish Ovechkin's otherwise marvelous season.
