Henrik Sedin poised to claim NHL scoring title as Ovechkin blanked in final game(news)

Henrik Sedin is on the verge of becoming the new National Hockey League scoring champion, the first in Vancouver Canuck franchise history.

Henrik finished his 2009-10 season Saturday night with 112 points, and by midday Sunday it was clear Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin couldn't catch him for the prestigious Art Ross Trophy,But Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who needed an improbable eight points in his final game to take the title, is making a late charge for the Art Ross Sunday afternoon. The Penguins captain has two goals and two assists so far against the Islanders.Ovechkin needed three points to reel Henrik in but was held pointless by a Boston Bruins team resting its top defenceman Zdeno Chara, its top goalie Tuukka Rask and top forwards Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi.Henrik had entered the weekend one point behind Ovechkin but regained the lead with a spectacular four-assist effort in Vancouver's 7-3 finale against the Calgary Flames.“I was just happy to be up there going into the final weekend of the season,” Henrik said. “I felt that would have been good enough. Obviously I'm proud of what our team has done and what our line has done so from now on everything is a bonus.”Henrik, modest to a fault, admitted he was almost embarrassed when he received a number of terrific ovations Saturday night from the sellout crowd at GM Place. Henrik also established a new club record for points in a season, surpassing Pavel Bure's mark of 110 set 17 years ago.“The crowd was great, I don't know what to say,” Henrik commented. “I'm not someone who wants to stand up there or wants to have the attention on me but it was great to hear.” With nothing else at stake for the Canucks on Satuday, head coach Alain Vigneault gave Henrik an extraordinary amount of ice time, playing him 25:24, which was six minutes above his season average.“Obviously it was a very special night for him and his teammates,” Vigneault said. “The focus was on the scoring race more than anything else and it was fun to see.”“Everyone was pulling for Henrik,” added captain Roberto Luongo. “He had a great year and he worked extremely hard. It was one of the best seasons I've ever seen from a teammate.”