Live play-by-play of the NHL Awards in Las Vegas

By Ryan Greene, Steve Silver

Thursday, June 18, 2009 | 6:11 p.m.

Hart Memorial Trophy -- Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin's third award of the night was the biggest, as the Washington Capitals mega-star took home the Hart Memorial Trophy for the second consecutive season.

The now two-time MVP took 115 of a possible 133 first place votes, beating runner-up and playoff MVP Evgeni Malkin by nearly 500 points in the vote.

Malkin was the league's leading scorer in the regular season, but it's Ovechkin who leaves the Pearl as the first repeat Hart winner since Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek did so in 1997 and 98.

The 23-year-old Ovechkin attempted 528 shots on goal, which was the second-highest total in NHL history, but they didn't all go to waste, as he led the league in goals scored -- 56 -- for the second straight campaign.

When Ovechkin took the trophy, he even mimicked his "burning stick" dance, placing the award on the podium and holding his hands over it, claiming it was 'too hot.'

This came on the heels of Jean Béliveau earning the NHL's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Art Ross Trophy -- Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin

We've all known this one for quite some time. After scoring a career-high 113 points (35 goals, 78 assists), Malkin edged Ovechkin for the league's leading scorer honor. Malkin was the runner-up to Ovechkin last year for the scoring title.

James Norris Memorial Trophy -- Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara

Chara broke Nicklas Lidstrom's stranglehold on the Norris Trophy by earning the honor as the top defenseman. Lidstrom had won the award the past three years and six times overall.

But Chara helped the Bruins post the NHL's lowest goals-allowed per game this season at 2.29.

Lidstrom actually finished third (733) behind Mike Green (982) and Chara (1034).

Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award -- Flames forward Jarome Iginla

Mark Messier presented his own award to Iginlam, for exhibiting as much on-ice leadership as off-ice community service.

Mats Sundin won the award in 2008 and Chris Chelios in 2007.

Jack Adams Award -- Bruins coach Claude Julien

One of Hollywood’s leading men, Jerry Bruckheimer, alongside Pat Burns, presented Julien with the league’s top coaching honor.

Burns was actually the last Boston coach to win the award in 1998. Julien edged out Murray in the voting 224-135.

Vezina Trophy -- Bruins goalie Tim Thomas

After Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash was announced as the NHL Foundation Award winner -- he was not present to accept -- came the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's top netminder.

Tim Thomas took home his second trophy of the night, as he won 36 of his 54 starts in helping Boston earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Thomas is the first Boston goalie to win the Vezina since Pete Peeters in 1983. He earned 22 of 30 possible first place votes, followed by Calder winner Steve Mason with 3.

He was the first winner of the night to get choked up at the podium.

Scotiabank/NHL Fan Fav Award -- Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo

For the first time in NHL Awards history, the league allowed the fans to vote on an award. More than one million fans cast votes on which player they thought was the best regular season performer and Luongo came out on top.

One lucky fan, Tony Cruz, won a trip to Las Vegas to present the award alongside Jeremy Roenick. The NHL should have probably let Cruz speak instead of teleprompter-impaired Roenick.

King Clancy Trophy -- OIlers winger Ethan Moreau

Edmonton's Ethan Moreau was awarded with the King Clancy Trophy, which is given to the player who exudes great leadership qualities both on and off the ice.

Moreau has helped spearhead an effort to build a new Edmonton Inner City High School facility. The $20 million facility will accommodate 150 students, which is 125 percent more than the current building.

Presenter Glenn Anderson provided an awkward moment before giving the award, by introducing himself to the stage in saying 'I thought I was down the street at the Russian awards'. Something tells me that wasn't part of the script.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy -- Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk

No surprise here. Datsyuk wins the NHL's "sportsmanship award" for the fourth consecutive year. He is the first player to claim the Lady Byng four times in a row since New York Ranger Frank Boucher did so in 1928-31.

Datsyuk beat out Lightning forward Martin St. Louis 933-662.

William M. Jennings Trophy -- Bruins goaltenders Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez

Boston Bruins teammates Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez took home the William M. Jennings Trophy, as the teammates who allowed the fewest goals from any club in the league.

To win the award, a goaltender must play at least 25 games over the course of a season. Thomas played in 54 regular season games for the Bruins, while Fernandez minded the net for 28.

Fernandez also won the award in 2007, combined with then-Minnesota Wild teammate Niklas Backstrom.

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy -- Predators forward Steve Sullivan

After missing nearly two years with a severe back injury, Sullivan recovered to score 32 points in 41 games this season and earn the Masterton Trophy.

When Sullivan returned to the Nashville lineup on Jan. 10, he became just the third player since WWII to play 150 games with a team, then miss at least 600 consecutive days prior to returning to the same team.

Frank Selke Award -- Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk

The Frank Selke trophy, presented to the league's best two-way player, went to Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, who moments earlier lost out to Alex Ovechkin for the Pearson award.

Datsyuk won the award for the second consecutive year, and the voting was about as close as possible.

Philadelphia's Mike Richards captured more first place votes -- 61 to 55 -- but lost out to Datsyuk in total voting points, 945-942.

Lester B. Pearson Award -- Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin

Ovie better make more room in his trophy case because he just took home his second consecutive Lester B. Pearson Award, which is presented to the league's most outstanding player as selected by the NHL Players' Association. The last player to win consecutive Pearson honors was Jaromir Jagr in 1999 and 2000 with the Penguins.

Calder Memorial Award -- Blue Jackets goaltender Chris Mason

Well, Patrick Kane didn't follow through on his idea of calling up Kris Versteeg as the Calder winner even if he got beat.

The award for the league's top rookie went to Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason, who took 121 of the 132 first place votes.

Mason becomes the first goalie to win the trophy since San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov took home the honors in 2001. He beat out Versteeg and Anaheim's Bobby Ryan.

It's hard to tell who was the more visibly nervous public speaker, however, between Kane and Mason.

The main event

The first ever NHL Awards show in Las Vegas has officially kicked off with a "rousing" performance by Robin Thicke and Chaka Khan. Yeah, probably not the best way to draw a young and hip audience to the NHL. I'm sure Snoop Dogg is loving this music.

The NHL picked it up, though, with Jeremy Roenick, Kevin Connolly (E from Entourage) and Michael Buble immediately taking the stage next to honor the Pittsburgh Penguins as Evgeni Malkin, Maxime Talbot and Dan Bylsma carried the Stanley Cup to the stage. Well played.

Pre-show

The red carpet is a go, the fans turned out in full force and we're now about 10 minutes from the start of the 2009 NHL Awards ceremony inside the Pearl Theater at the Palms.

Judging by sight alone, the annual event's first time on U.S. soil appears to be a success. The fans are loving it and the players are soaking it all in. That's especially true for Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, who just proclaimed in a red carpet interview that he wants to purchase a home in Las Vegas. This came just moments after cheesin' it up with a pair of Vegas showgirls in a photo op.

We'll be bringing you the action right here at Lasvegassun.com, award by award. There will be 16 handed out in all tonight. That said, Steve Silver and myself, Ryan Greene, would like to throw out a few predictions.

Actually, we've only got one general prediction. He's picking the Pittsburgh guys and I'm taking the Chicago guys to sweep everything they're up for. It should be pointed out that he's from Pittsburgh and I'm, well, from Chicago.

Only one Chicago Blackhawk, however, is up for an award, and that's rookie Kris Versteeg, who is nominated for the Calder trophy -- awarded to the league's top first-year player. Teammate Patrick Kane, who won the award a year ago, will be presenting, and proclaimed on the red carpet that no matter who wins, he may just call Versteeg's name to get the young winger up there.

We'll get started here in a few minutes with the awards themselves. Stay tuned.