The National Hockey League announced today that New York Islanders forward John Tavares is a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team.

The announcement of the winner will take place during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. The NHL will release further details on the date and format at a later date.

Tavares, 22, led the Islanders in scoring for the fourth-straight season, recording 47 points (28g/19a) in 48 games. He finished third in NHL goal scoring with 28 goals, including a league-high 19 even-strength goals and a team leading five game-winning goals. The Islanders finished 15-6-2 when Tavares scored a goal and 20-7-2 when he recorded a point. He led team forwards in average TOI (time on ice) at 20:46.

A native of Mississauga, ON, Tavares posted 13 multi-point games this season, including three, three-point efforts and a four-point game (three goals, one assist) on February 16 against the New Jersey Devils.

Tavares posted the NHL’s second-longest goal streak of this regular season, finding the back of the net in five-straight games (seven goals) from February 7-16. He also had a five-game point streak (four goals, one assist) from March 21-28. He currently holds the team’s active iron man streak, having played in 212 straight games (including postseason).

Selected by the Islanders with the first overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft, Tavares has 249 points (112 goals, 137 assists) in 291 career regular-season games through four years with the club. This season, he led the Islanders to their first playoff berth since 2007.

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals were also selected as finalists for the award.