Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid became just the second unanimous MVP in the 97-year history of the NHL award.
McDavid received each of the 100 first-place votes to join Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky (1981-82) as the only other unanimous winner of the Hart Trophy.
Oilers star McDavid beat Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) to his second MVP honour after being crowned the league's best in 2017.
McDavid posted a league-best 105 points (33 goals and 72 assists) – 21 more than next-closest player and team-mate Leon Draisaitl as the Oilers reached the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The 24-year-old also topped the NHL for assists, power-play assists (28) and power-play points (37), while he recorded a league-leading 1.88 points per game – the most by a player since 1995-96.
"My team-mates are everything," McDavid said. "I really wouldn't be anywhere without them. … We had a special group this year, and obviously we didn't do what we wanted to do, but still so fun to be a part of and get Edmonton and the fans of Edmonton excited again for what's to come.
"Obviously not possible without [my team-mates] and so lucky to be part of a great group."
McDavid become the fifth player in NHL history to claim the award multiple times before his 25th birthday (age as of final day of regular season), after Gretzky (six), Bobby Orr (three), Gordie Howe (two) and Alex Ovechkin (two).
"Our team is just getting better as we go along here," added McDavid, who also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player in voting by the NHL Players' Association.
"We just had so many guys take the next step and I'm just a part of that. Obviously if we're all continuing to do that, we're going to go and do some special things in this league."
The Oilers are the first team with different Hart Trophy winners in consecutive seasons since the Boston Bruins in 1968-69 (Phil Esposito) and 1969-70 (Bobby Orr).
Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkin signed an eight-year contract extension with the Oilers on Tuesday.
Atalanta 2-1 Milan: Lookman late show propels hosts to Serie A summit
Atalanta climbed to the top of the Serie A table after Ademola Lookman struck late to secure a 2-1 win against Milan at the Gewiss Stadium.
Only moments after being denied a winner by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Lookman arrived unmarked at the far post to nod in a corner in the 87th minute to seal a hard-fought win.
With 34 points from 15 matches, Tullio Gritti's side are now two points clear of second-placed Napoli, who will play Lazio at home on Sunday.
Charles De Ketelaere scored against his former club to put Atalanta ahead in the 12th minute, rising highest to head home Marten de Roon's free-kick.
But Milan struck back 10 minutes later when Rafael Leao's cross into the box was turned home by Alvaro Morata for his fourth league goal of the season.
The second half was an evenly contested affair, with both sides creating several chances before Lookman struck the decisive blow to leave Paulo Fonseca's side seventh in the table.
Data Debrief: Atalanta's dream run continues
The win against the Rossoneri was Atalanta's ninth consecutive victory in Serie A this season, matching the club record set between February and July 2020.
They have also now scored at least two goals in each of their last 12 home games in Serie A, becoming the first team to do so after Juventus between November 2006 and January 2008.
Only Barcelona (48) have scored more than Atalanta's 38 goals in the five major European Leagues this season.
Lookman's winner was his 11th Serie A goal of the season, and he has been involved in 18 goals in his last 18 league games, also bagging seven assists.
Van Nistelrooy hints at January arrivals ahead of Brighton test
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said he will have money available to spend in January as his side welcome Brighton to the King Power Stadium this Sunday.
The Foxes posted an impressive 3-1 win against West Ham in Van Nistelrooy's first Premier League game in charge on Tuesday, with captain Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka finding the target.
However, with Leicester still only four points clear of safety with 13 points from 14 matches, the former Netherlands striker hinted at incomings during the winter transfer window.
"There were conversations about it before I signed. We said that there is no rush to do things and I agree with that," Van Nistelrooy said ahead of the Brighton game.
"The squad we have is getting all of the chances to prove themselves over this month. There is time after that to make a good assessment and we make a decision in January."
Meanwhile, Brighton are gunning for the Champions League places, sitting fifth with 23 points.
Despite a 3-1 defeat to Fulham in their last game, Fabian Hurzeler's side are only five points behind second-placed Chelsea.
Hurzeler, who will return to the Brighton dugout after serving a touchline suspension, acknowledged that Leicester will be a tough challenge for his side.
"They have quality, they play good football. They were very effective against West Ham. It will be interesting to see where they are," the 31-year-old German said.
"They have had a good start [under Van Nistelrooy] so it is up to us to break that up and get back the points we lost against Fulham."
Danny Welbeck, who has scored four league goals against Leicester, is an injury doubt for Brighton, while the Foxes will be without Facundo Buonanotte, with the loanee not eligible to face his parent club.
"Facundo is doing a great job with Leicester, he is developing well. He works hard, and he has big potential," Hurzeler said.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leicester - Jamie Vardy
Vardy remains Leicester's biggest goal threat at the age of 37, with the captain also their top Premier League scorer this season with five goals.
He has also scored 11 goals in his last 14 league appearances against teams with Albion in their name, most recently netting against West Brom in April this year in the Championship.
Brighton - Danny Welbeck
After starting the season with six goals in nine games, Welbeck has failed to find the target in his last three outings, but he will be confident of finding the back of the net against one of his favoured opponents, should he be fit to feature.
He has scored four goals in 11 Premier League appearances against Leicester, with these strikes being worth seven points to his respective sides.
MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN
While Brighton are favoured by Opta's data-led simulations to win on Sunday, they have won none of their six Premier League away games against Leicester (D3 L3), with their last league victory at the King Power Stadium coming in the Championship in April 2014 (4-1).
The Seagulls have also lost five of their last six top-flight away games played on a Sunday, as many as in their previous 16 such games (W7 D4). The only exception in this current run was a 5-0 win at Sheffield United in February.
Five of Brighton’s last seven Premier League games against promoted sides have been drawn (W1 L1), including each of the last three in a row. The last team to draw four consecutive such games were Newcastle in the 2021-22 campaign.
But having won six of their first eight Premier League meetings with Brighton (D2), Leicester are now winless in their last four against the Seagulls (D2 L2).
However, the Foxes will be looking to build on their win over West Ham. They had seven big chances in their win on Tuesday in Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge, the joint-most big chances on record (since 2010-11) a team has had in their first Premier League match under a new manager, level with Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City against Newcastle (August 2013).
Van Nistelrooy will also be hoping to join Claudio Ranieri (first two) and Craig Shakespeare (first five) in winning their first two games in charge of the Foxes in the Premier League.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brighton – 52.6%
Leicester – 24.2%
Draw – 23.2%
Van Nistelrooy hints at January arrivals at Leicester ahead of Brighton test
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy said he will have money available to spend in January as his side welcome Brighton to the King Power Stadium this Sunday.
The Foxes posted an impressive 3-1 win against West Ham in Van Nistelrooy's first Premier League game in charge on Tuesday, with captain Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka finding the target.
However, with Leicester still only four points clear of safety with 13 points from 14 matches, the former Netherlands striker hinted at incomings during the winter transfer window.
"There were conversations about it before I signed. We said that there is no rush to do things and I agree with that," Van Nistelrooy said ahead of the Brighton game.
"The squad we have is getting all of the chances to prove themselves over this month. There is time after that to make a good assessment and we make a decision in January."
Meanwhile, Brighton are gunning for Champions League places, sitting fifth with 23 points. Despite a 3-1 defeat to Fulham in their last game, Fabian Hurzeler's side are only five points behind second-placed Chelsea.
Hurzeler, who will return to the Brighton dugout after serving a touchline suspension, acknowledged that Leicester will be a tough challenge for his side.
"They have quality, they play good football. They were very effective against West Ham. It will be interesting to see where they are," the 31-year-old German said.
"They have had a good start [under Van Nistelrooy] so it is up to us to break that up and get back the points we lost against Fulham."
Danny Welbeck, who has scored four league goals against Leicester, is an injury doubt for Brighton, while the Foxes will be without Facundo Buonanotte, with the loanee not eligible to face his parent club.
"Facundo is doing a great job with Leicester, he is developing well. He works hard, and he has big potential," Hurzeler said.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leicester - Jamie Vardy
Vardy remains Leicester's biggest goal threat at the age of 37, with the captain also their top Premier League scorer this season with five goals.
He has also scored 11 goals in his last 14 league appearances against teams with Albion in their name, most recently netting against West Brom in April this year in the Championship.
Brighton - Danny Welbeck
After starting the season with six goals in nine games, Welbeck has failed to find the target in his last three outings, but he will be confident of finding the back of the net against one of his favoured opponents, should he be fit to feature.
He has scored four goals in 11 Premier League appearances against Leicester, with these strikes being worth seven points to his respective sides.
MATCH PREDICTION: BRIGHTON WIN
While Brighton are favoured by Opta's data-led simulations to win on Sunday, they have won none of their six Premier League away games against Leicester (D3 L3), with their last league victory at the King Power Stadium coming in the Championship in April 2014 (4-1).
The Seagulls have also lost five of their last six top-flight away games played on a Sunday, as many as in their previous 16 such games (W7 D4). The only exception in this current run was a 5-0 win at Sheffield United in February.
Five of Brighton’s last seven Premier League games against promoted sides have been drawn (W1 L1), including each of the last three in a row. The last team to draw four consecutive such games were Newcastle in the 2021-22 campaign.
But having won six of their first eight Premier League meetings with Brighton (D2), Leicester are now winless in their last four against the Seagulls (D2 L2).
However, the Foxes will be looking to build on their win over West Ham. They had seven big chances in their win on Tuesday in Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge, the joint-most big chances on record (since 2010-11) a team has had in their first Premier League match under a new manager, level with Manuel Pellegrini’s Man City against Newcastle (August 2013).
Van Nistelrooy will also be hoping to join Claudio Ranieri (first two) and Craig Shakespeare (first five) to have won their first two in charge of the Foxes in the Premier League.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brighton – 52.6%
Leicester – 24.2%
Draw – 23.2%
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