Tonight is the NHL’s annual awards show. Alexander Ovechkin, who has won both of the NHL’s scoring titles, is nominated for both of the league’s most valuable player awards as well.

Two other Capitals could be honored tonight. Bruce Boudreau is up for Coach of the Year, and has a slim chance. Nicklas Backstrom is nominated for Rookie of the Year, but the honor is predicted to fall upon Chicago’s Patrick Kane.

Ovechkin’s fellow nominees for both of the MVP awards are Pittsburgh’s Evgenei Malkin and Calgary’s Jarome Iginla. Malkin can hardly be said to be the most valuable player on a team with reigning MVP Sidney Crosby. While Iginla may be as important to the Flames as Ovechkin is to the Caps, Ovechkin scored so much this year that even the Calgary Herald picks Ovechkin as MVP.

The Capitals plan to celebrate in style with free ice skating at Ballston tomorrow, regardless of the outcome. Mayor Fenty also wants to get in on the action. The mayor will present Ovechkin with a key to the city tomorrow afternoon, but only if he wins. Tough town.

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