First, it’s time for awards

Honors to Bruins and several stars

While the NHL is planning to go straight to the playoffs, it’s handing out a handful of trophies for a regular season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not long after unveiling a 24-team right-to-theplayoffs format, the league Thursday announced the winners of its regular-season awards. Play was halted March 12 with 189 regular-season games remaining.

Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Boston’s David Pastrnak share the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the topgoal scorer after tying with 48.

Along with Pastrnak’s individual award, the Boston Bruins get the Presidents’ Trophy for leading the league standings with 100 points and goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak earn the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals.

The Bruins, who got to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final a year ago before losing to St. Louis, won’t get the usual benefits of the Presidents’ Trophy winner if the NHL resumes this summer in two host cities without fans.

They are not even guaranteed the top seed in the Eastern Conference under this playoff format, which will make them play a three-game round-robin tournament against Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia to determine the order of the top four. Through 70 games, the Bruins had leads of eight points over the Lightning, 10 over the Capitals and 11 over the Flyers.

Team president Cam Neely questioned the format in calls with the NHL in recent weeks while acknowledging this is “uncharted times for everybody.”

Although Ovechkin was stopped short of a ninth 50-goal season, his ninth goal-scoring title extends his NHL record.

Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl won his first Art Ross Trophy for leading the league with 110 points, which he accomplished in 71 games. Oilers general manager Ken Holland praised Draisaitl for producing at that clip.

“It’s a credit to his commitment, his passion, the hard work he’s put in, the determination over the last three, four, five seasons,” Holland said.