Ovechkin was not among the top three contenders for the Bill Masterton Trophy

Alexander Ovechkin, the Russian forward of the Washington Capitals hockey club, was not among the finalists for the Bill Masterton Trophy. This was announced on Monday, May 4, on the website of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The prize is awarded annually at the end of the NHL season to a player who has demonstrated high sportsmanship and loyalty to hockey. The nominees include one representative from each team in the league.

The final list of three contenders includes Swedish defender of the Buffalo Sabres Rasmus Dahlin, Swedish striker of the Colorado Avalanche Gabriel Landeskog and Canadian forward of the Winnipeg Jets Jonathan Taves.

Russian hockey players have never won the Bill Masterton Trophy. The award was established in 1968 in memory of player Bill Masterton, who died as a result of an injury sustained during a match.

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Among the nominees are Ovechkin, Kucherov, Demidov, Sorokin and Vasilevsky.

On April 12, Ovechkin took part in the 100th head-to-head match against Canadian Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby. The match ended with a 3-0 victory for the Capitals, which allowed the team to maintain its chances of reaching the NHL playoffs.