

NEW YORK (July 3, 2013) -- Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals , a previous five-time selection to the NHL First All-Star Team at left wing, has been voted to the First Team at right wing in 2012-13 to become just the second player in League history to receive the honor at multiple positions.

Ovechkin joins four-time First Team selection Mark Messier, who was named to the squad twice as a left wing (1980-81, 1981-82) and twice as a center (1989-90, 1991-92). Ovechkin tallied 32 goals in 48 games, including 23 in his final 23 contests, to become a three-time winner of the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the League's goal-scoring leader. He finished third in the League in points (56), leading the Capitals to an 11-1-1 record in April and their fifth Southeast Division title in the last six years.

Joining Ovechkin on the First Team is center Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins , who garnered his second career First Team berth, and four newcomers to the First Team -- Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky , Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban and Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter.

Among those named to the Second Team are goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers , who collected his first Second Team berth to go along with his First Team nomination last season; defensemen Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Francois Beauchemin of the Anaheim Ducks , both first-time selections; center Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks, also a first-time selection; and right wing Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning , voted to the Second Team for the fourth time.

Rounding out the Second Team, at left wing, is Ovechkin. While most voters selected Ovechkin at right wing to make him a decisive winner at that position, the 27-year-old Moscow native received enough votes from other voters as a left wing -- the position he played for each of his seven prior NHL seasons and for a handful of games in 2012-13 -- to place second overall behind Kunitz.

Voting for the All-Star Team is conducted among representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.