For the third time in less than a week, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was named a finalist for a major NHL award – this time the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded each year to the player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) vote on the winner.

Last week Crosby was named one of three finalists for both the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) and the Ted Lindsay Award (NHLPA ‘most outstanding player’).

NHL award winners will be announced in June during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.

Completely healthy for the first time since early in the 2010-11 season, Crosby had arguably the most-dominant campaign of his NHL career this season, jumping out to a 10-point lead in the NHL scoring race with 56 points (15G-41A) through his first 35 games played.

Although he suffered a broken jaw on the first shift of Pittsburgh’s March 30 game against the Islanders – forcing him to miss the final 12-plus games of the regular season – Crosby still finished third in the scoring race while posting a league-high 1.56 point-per-game average.

Crosby will be attempting to become just the third Penguins player to win the Masterton Trophy – joining Mario Lemieux (1993) and Lowell MacDonald (1973).

In addition to Crosby’s three award nominations, Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is a finalist for the Norris Trophy (NHL’s best defenseman) and Ray Shero is one of three finalists for the NHL’s General Manager of the Year Award.