Malkin makes his mark, captures Art Ross Trophy

The Penguins standout finished with 113 points — three ahead of Ovechkin.

MONTREAL (AP) — Now in his third season, Evgeni Malkin is happy to be making his mark in the NHL.

Malkin secured the Art Ross Trophy, the NHL’s regular-season scoring title, with a goal in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 3-1 season-ending victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

His 35th goal of the season gave Malkin 113 points, leaving him three points ahead of fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

“It’s my third year playing in the NHL and I understand how to play here,” a beaming Malkin said after the game. “My English is a little bit better and my game is better.”

Malkin and Ovechkin are said to be bitter rivals on the ice, but after the game Malkin was very gracious to the young Capitals star who made the scoring race tight with a late-season flurry.

“Alex is a good player, and in the last five games he played awesome,” Malkin said. “Every game he had three or four points. It made for a good scoring race, but it was better for me.”

Malkin said it may be difficult for him to wrench the Hart Trophy as league MVP from the hands of last year’s winner Ovechkin, but in Penguins captain Sidney Crosby’s opinion the decision is clear.

“He’s done a great job all season long,” said Crosby, the 2007 Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner. “Consistency is a big thing for any player, especially for one who wants to be recognized for an award like that.

“To show the consistency he has, he’s right up there.”

It would be difficult to find a more consistent player than Malkin was in 2008-09.

He only failed to get a point in 18 of his 82 games and he never went more than two straight without getting a point.