Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf a finalist for Ted Lindsay award

Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf has earned a hat trick’s worth of nominations for NHL awards.

Getzlaf on Monday was named as a finalist for the Ted Lindsay award, presented annually to the “most outstanding player” as chosen by members of the NHL Players’ Assn. He’s competing with Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux for the honor.

The same three players are finalists for the Hart trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. Getzlaf also is in contention for the Mark Messier Leadership Award, along with Kings captain Dustin Brown and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews.

Getzlaf, who will be 29 on May 10, was the runner-up to Crosby in the NHL scoring race this season with 31 goals and 56 assists for 87 points. He led the Ducks in assists, scoring and power-play points (23). He also leads them in postseason scoring, with three goals and nine points in six games before the Ducks and Kings met Monday at the Honda Center for Game 2 of their second-round playoff series. The Kings won the opener, 3-2, in overtime on Saturday.

The Ducks’ captain said being a finalist for the Ted Lindsay award holds considerable significance for him.

“It’s a great honor for me, that one especially, when you’re talking about your peers nominating me for that award,” he said. “Any time you can be singled out amongst your peers, it’s a good tip of your cap.”

He said Crosby and Giroux “are great hockey players and they’ve had outstanding seasons for their respective clubs. It’s just an honor to be in that group and considered for those awards.”