Alexander Ovechkin captured the Conn Smythe Trophy on Thursday night as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Ovechkin was chosen as the winner in a vote by a panel of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The 32-year-old Washington superstar led the league in playoff goals with 15 and added 12 assists over 24 postseason contests. He edged out teammate and overall playoff scoring leader Evgeny Kuznetsov (12 goals, 20 assists) for the honour.

Ovechkin became the first Russian to captain a team to the Stanley Cup, and became the fourth European-born player to win the Conn Smythe. Nicklas Lidstrom of the Red Wings was the first to win the honour in 2002, followed by teammate Henrik Zetterberg in 2008 and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin in 2009.