Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and
teammate James Neal were voted first-team All-Stars on Wednesday, as part
of the NHL's awards night.
Malkin, who received the honor for a third time in the past five seasons, also
walked away with the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP. He finished with a
league-best 109 points to claim the Art Ross Trophy along with a career-best
50 goals.
Neal, a right winger, got his second straight first-team berth thanks to a
career highs of 40 goals, 41 assists and 81 points.
Four first-time first-team All-Stars joined Malkin and Neal. They were:
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, defensemen Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa
Senators and Shea Weber of the Predators, along with left wing Ilya Kovalchuk
of the Devils. Lundqvist was rewarded with the Vezina Trophy as top
goaltender, while fellow Swede Karlsson took home the Norris Trophy as best
blueliner.
The second All-Star team members were Kings goaltender and reigning Conn
Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Quick, defensemen Zdeno Chara of the Bruins and
Alex Pietrangelo of the Blues, along with center Steven Stamkos of the
Lightning, right wing Marian Gaborik of the Rangers and left wing Ray Whitney
of the Coyotes. Stamkos led the league with a career-high 60 goals.
The voting came from representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers'
Association at the end of the regular season.
The Sports Network