Matthews wins Hart Trophy as NHL’s most valuable player
FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer
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Updated:
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Toronto’s Auston Matthews won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player on Tuesday night, becoming only the third Maple Leaf to win the award and the first since Ted Kennedy in 1954-55.
The 24-year-old forward received 119 first-place votes in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and finished well ahead of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers for the honor presented during the NHL Awards Show.
“I can’t lie, it feels really good. … It’s pretty special,” Matthews said, though he conceded there were some bittersweet feelings about accepting the award in Tampa, where the two-time defending champion Lightning and Colorado Avalanche will meet in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.
“There is some angst, wishing you were still playing,” Matthews said.
Shesterkin claimed the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender. Colorado’s Cale Maker took the Norris Trophy, presented to the league’s best defenseman, and Detroit’s Moritz Seider claimed the Calder Trophy as the top rookie.
Matthews became the first player to score 60 goals since Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos did it 10 years ago, helping the Maple Leafs (54-21-7, 115 points) set franchise records for wins and points. Toronto lost to the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.
The Maple Leafs star, who posted career bests with 46 assists and 106 points, also took home the Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player in the regular season, an honor determined by voting by members of the NHL Players Association.
Shesterkin became the third Rangers goalie in the past 40 years to win the Vezina, joining Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12) and John Vanbiesbrouck (1985-86). He went 36-13-4 with an NHL-best 2.07 goal-against-average and .935 save percentage before leading a playoff run that ended against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference final.
Seider is the first Red Wings player to win the Calder Trophy since goalie Roger Crozier during the 1964-65 season. He led all first-year defensemen with 50 points and finished ahead of Toronto’s Michael Bunting and Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras in balloting for the award.
Maker is the fifth defenseman to win Norris within his first three regular seasons, joining Adam Fox, Erik Karlsson, Denis Potvin and Bobby Orr (twice). He led all defensemen with 28 goals while helping the Avalanche finish with a Western Conference-best 119 points (56-19-7).
The 2019-20 Calder Trophy winner beat out Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman and Nashville’s Roman Josi.
“They are such incredible players,” Maker said of the other Norris finalists. “They pushed me hard all season.”
Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom and Nashville’s Juuse Saros were finalists for the Vezina.
Ethan Miller
The cost to attend an NFL game is the most expensive among the major four sports leagues with an average cost of $157.07. The cheapest NFL team to watch live is the Cincinnati Bengals with an average cost of $105.69. Here are the five most expensive.
Ethan Miller
The Las Vegas Raiders moved into Allegiant Stadium prior to the 2020-21 season. Among NFL teams, the Raiders have the most expensive general admission ticket ($153.47), most expensive beer ($13) and most expensive hot dogs ($7.50).
Daniel Shirey
Levi's Stadium opened in 2014. To attend a San Francisco 49ers game is the second-most expensive among NFL teams and third-most expensive among all four major sports leagues.
Tom Pennington
The parking at AT&T Stadium is the most expensive of all the four major sports leagues. It costs more for parking at a Dallas Cowboys game ($75) than attending a Los Angeles Dodgers game ($70.66).
Jayne Kamin-Oncea
The Los Angeles Rams moved into SoFi Stadium prior to the 2020-21 season. The Rams sell the most expensive hot dogs among NFL teams with an average price of $7.50.
Dylan Buell
The Green Bay Packers are the only franchise owned by stockholders. The average price for a Green Bay Packers fan to attend a game at Lambeau Field with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $192.93.
Jonathan Daniel
The average cost to attend an MLB game with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $67.39, which is the cheapest of the major four sports leagues.
Jon Durr
Watching the Chicago Cubs comes at a hefty price. Wrigley Field is the most expensive MLB game for fans to attend with an average price of $109.78.
Maddie Meyer
Among all the MLB teams, the Boston Red Sox have the priciest general admission ticket. The average ticket price at Fenway Park is $60.09.
Ezra Shaw
At $29, the parking at Yankees Stadium is the most expensive of all MLB stadiums.
ALEX EDELMAN
The most expensive hot dog of all MLB stadiums can be found at a Washington Nationals home game. Hot dogs cost fans $7.25 at Nationals games.
Tim Warner
The average price for Houston Astros fans to attend a game at Minute Maid Park with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $89.83.
Rob Carr
The NBA is the second-most expensive league in terms of attending a game with an average cost of $120.13.
Alex Goodlett
An average New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden will cost fans $260.38, the most expensive of all of the four major sports leagues. Among NBA teams, the Knicks have the most expensive general admission tickets ($180.78), most expensive parking ($45) and most expensive hot dog ($8.50).
Ezra Shaw
The Golden State Warriors moved into Chase Center before the 2019-20 season and became the second-most expensive NBA game to attend with an average cost of $230.30. The Warriors sell the most expensive hot dogs in the NBA with an average cost of $8.50.
Sean M. Haffey
It's no surprise that attending a Los Angeles Lakers game is expensive. The average cost for Lakers fans to attend a game at Staple Center with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $190.76.
Elsa
The TD Garden has been the home of the Boston Celtics since 1995. The average price for a Boston Celtics fan to attend a game at TD Garden with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $167.16.
Jonathan Daniel
Even though the Chicago Bulls missed the playoffs with a 22-43 record during the 2019-20 season, the United Center was still the fifth-most expensive NBA stadium to attend a game with an average cost of $154.01.
Adam Glanzman
While it's not as cheap as the average price to attend an MLB game, an NHL game is still reasonable compared to an NFL or NBA game. The average cost for a NHL game with two beers, a hot dog and parking is $114.47.
Bruce Bennett
Even though an average New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden isn't as expensive as a New York Knicks game, it's still the most expensive game to attend in the NHL with an average cost of $182.43. The Rangers also sell the most expensive beer in the league, which will set a fan back $15.
Bruce Bennett
The parking at TD Garden for a Boston Bruins game will cost an average of $29, the most expensive among NHL teams.Including a ticket, two beers, a hot dog and the parking, a Bruins game will cost an average of $162.36.
Claus Andersen
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the most popular hockey team in Canada, and the ticket prices prove it. Scotiabank Arena offers the most expensive general admissions ticket in the NHL with an average ticket costing $128.69.
Jonathan Daniel
Even though the Chicago Blackhawks finished last in the Central Division during the 2019-20 season, the United Center still sets a fan back $153.63 to attend an NHL game.
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The newest addition to the NHL is the Las Vegas Golden Knights and T-Mobile Arena where the average price to attend a game is $153.36. The Golden Knights are home to the most expensive hot dog in the NHL, which will cost a fan $7.
Frank Gunn
“What’s the case? He’s the best scorer,” Toronto Maple Leafs teammate David Kampf said. “He has the most goals. That is the reason.”
Matthews’ 60 goals are the most a player has had in a season since Steven Stamkos scored 60 in 2011-12. Matthews is one of only three players to score that many since the salary cap era began in 2004-05.
An injury slowed Matthews’ push for 60 goals but doesn’t diminish how he has been leading Toronto all season and now into the playoffs.
“It’s just a number,” Leafs defenseman Justin Holl said. “I don’t know if he cares about it that much.”
An added touch: 43 of his goals have come at even strength, also most in the league.
