PENGUINS AWARDS

SIDNEY CROSBY WINS MVP & PLAYER’S PLAYER AWARD

To no one’s surprise, the Pittsburgh Penguins named Sidney Crosby their team MVP on Thursday. Crosby also won the Player’s Player award presented by UPMC. The team awards were announced at the conclusion of practice via the team’s official Twitter account.

Crosby is having his best statistical season since 2013-14. The 31-year-old Penguins captain has 94 points (31g, 64a) in 74 games this season. He needs six points in the Penguins final five games to eclipse the 100-point mark for the sixth time in his career and the first time since the 2013-14 season. Crosby’s 43 even-strength assists are a career high.

Crosby is currently sixth in the NHL scoring race. He is tied with a friend and fellow Nova Scotia resident Nathan MacKinnon.

Crosby has also begun receiving significant attention for the Hart Trophy which is awarded to the NHL MVP. His work this season kept the Penguins in playoff contention despite team-wide struggles. Crosby linemate Jake Guentzel needs just two goals in the final five games to reach the 40-goal plateau.

Earlier this morning, the Professional Hockey Writers Association named Matt Cullen as its nominee for the Masterton Award which recognizes perseverance and dedication to the sport. Cullen is the oldest player in the NHL and has suggested this will be his final season. Our Shelly Anderson, who is also a member of the PWHA wrote the story this morning–read it here.

Bryan Rust and Matt Murray were co-recipients of the EJD Community Service Award.