John Tavares, their 22-year-old center, is one of three finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league's MVP.

WSJ: Penguins End Islanders' Season

Washington is having success despite only one goal and one assist from Ovechkin, named as a Hart Trophy finalist as NHL MVP.

WSJ: Rangers look to stay alive against Capitals

Once more he is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie, and a Hart Trophy MVP candidate, as well.

WSJ: Jason Gay: Lundsanity's No Passing Fad

Some of them have been Hart Trophy winners, and some of them have been in the conversation with the best players in the world.

WSJ: The MVP of Long Island

Over the Islanders' 41-year history, only one player, Bryan Trottier, has won the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP, and that was in 1979.

WSJ: The MVP of Long Island

As the Islanders celebrated, Tavares was showered with chants of "M-V-P, M-V-P" one day after he was announced as a finalist for the Hart Trophy.

NPR: Orpik's OT Goal Sends Penguins To 2nd Round

The 22-year-old center is a finalist for the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL MVP, and he and his teammates were cheered in the first few seconds after the season ended in a flash.

WSJ: Islanders look to future after ouster vs. Pens

"Fifty shots, 27 blocked, 13 missed the net so we had the puck a lot of the night and had good opportunity to shoot it, lots of opportunity obviously to shoot it, but obviously Reimer must be the Vezina Trophy winner and Hart Trophy winner, " said Senators coach Paul MacLean.

NPR: Maple Leafs Earn First Playoff Berth Since 2004