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Less than two weeks to go in this season and the race for the Art
Ross and Richard trophies remain very tight.
The contenders for the Art Ross, given to the league’s
scoring leader, features the usual suspects in Washington Capitals
winger Alexander Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney
Crosby. Heading into the final days of March, Ovechkin was second
overall with 100 points, which marked the third consecutive season
and fourth time in his career he’s reached that plateau.
Meanwhile, Crosby was third overall with 94 points and should also
crack the 100-point plateau this season, which like Ovechkin would
also be the fourth time in his young NHL career he would reach that
mark.
But leading those two young superstars with 101 points is
29-year-old Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin, who not only
found himself in the points lead but his career-best performance
(his previous best was 82 points in 2008-09) could put him in
contention for the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable
player.
Sedin’s star turn this season was even more notable
considering his twin brother and linemate Daniel missed 18 games
with a broken foot. Many observers believed Henrik’s numbers
would suffer but instead he stepped up his game, signaling his
emergence as a late-blooming superstar.
It remains to be seen if Sedin can fend off his two young
rivals but with five points in his last two games heading into this
week he’s on pace for 110 points and showing no sign of
slowing down as the end of the regular season draws near.
At this point it appears it could be a two-man race between
Sedin and Ovechkin for the Art Ross, but don't count out a late
surge by Crosby.
Bringing up the rear in this race are Ovechkin linemate
Nicklas Backstrom (90 points) and Tampa Bay Lightning linemates
Martin St. Louis (87 points) and Steven Stamkos (86 points), who
appear too far behind the leaders to overtake them at this point in
the season.
But Stamkos stands a much better chance of winning the
Richard trophy as the league’s leading goal-scorer, heading
into this week with 45 goals, one less than Ovechkin and two behind
Crosby.
After a disappointing rookie performance (23 goals, 46
points) in 2008-09, Stamkos has silenced his critics this season.
With 18 points in his last 15 games heading into this week,
Stamkos, 20, is on pace to become only the second player in
Lightning history to score 50 goals in a season, a feat previously
accomplished by Vincent Lecavalier, who in scoring 52 goals in
2006-07 also became the first Lightning player to win the Richard
trophy.
It’s not unusual to see Ovechkin in this race, having
won the Richard the last two seasons and currently on pace for the
fourth 50-goal season of his career, but it is unusual to see
Crosby here.
Considered an elite playmaker, Crosby switched to a composite
stick this season and began shooting more. The result has him on
pace for the first 50-goal season in his career and possibly his
first Richard trophy.
Had Ovechkin not missed six games with a shoulder injury and
four games to suspensions this season, he would undoubtedly hold a
comfortable lead in both races. Unfortunately for him, the awards
aren’t based on prorated stats.
Not far behind these three is San Jose’s Patrick
Marleau, who has already set a career-best for goals with 42 this
season. Marleau remains in striking distance of the lead should the
others struggle over the next two weeks.
With those four so close in the goal-scoring lead heading
into this week it could be an exciting finish in the race for the
Richard trophy.
