NEW YORK -- Penguins star Sidney Crosby, Wild goaltender Josh Harding and Bruins defenceman Adam McQuaid are this seasons nominees for the NHLs Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is presented to "the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Crosby returned to form this year after missing extended time with concussion issues the past two seasons. The Penguins captain finished fourth in the NHL with 56 points despite missing 12 games because of injuries, including a broken jaw he suffered when hit in the face with a puck on March 30. Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last fall and missed 33 games as he underwent treatment. On April 22, he was activated from injured reserve and returned to the Wild lineup. McQuaid suffered a season-threatening injury in September when he was diagnosed with a condition causing dangerous blood clots to form in his body. After undergoing two emergency operation to remove the clots, the defenceman dedicated himself to his recovery and was in the lineup when the Bruins opened the season against the Rangers in January. A $2,500 grant from the Professional Hockey Writers Association is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund in the name of the winner, who will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup final. Custom Arsenal Jerseys . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Hector Bellerin Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. http://www.arsenalsoccerproshop.com/Authentic-Mesut-Ozil-Arsenal-Jersey/ . 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In any case, hes not an insurmountable wall.When France beat Germany 2-0 in November, Giroud scored against Neuer -- who has conceded only one goal at Euro 2016.Neuer was also in goal when Giroud scored home and away for Arsenal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season, and he also netted against him when the Gunners won 2-0 away to Bayern during the 2012-13 campaign.The following season, Giroud scored against Borussia Dortmund.I generally do well against German clubs as well, said Giroud, who has three goals at Euro 2016.His muscular style of play, allied to good technique and heading ability, seems to work against German players. The first of his 20 goals for France was against Germany in 2012 and his first goal in the Champions League for Arsenal was against Schalke 04 later that year.No wonder, given his track record and his current form, he is confident about the week ahead.My objective is to help us win the Euro, he said. If I can help us do that by scoring one or two more goals then thats great.Five weeks ago, fans jeered Giroud off the pitch when he was substituted against Cameroon, even though he scored a volley in a 3-2 win.By contrast, he was given a huge ovation on Sunday night after scoring twice in a 5-2 win against Iceland in the quarterfinals.Its nice to be cheered. But its not a case of revenge, the 29-year-old Giroud said. I give everything for the team. Thats the main thing.Giroud, who is 1.92 meters (6-foot-3), has not always been high in the popularity stakes.Despite a healthy return of 82 goals in 182 games for Arsenal, he has yet to win over a section of the fans.dddddddddddd Whatever he does, he is always being compared: either to former Arsenal stars Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie, or to Frances Karim Benzema.He does miss chances, sometimes many, but good strikers keep getting them because they know how to find dangerous positions.One of the hallmarks of Girouds play -- one that endears him to other Arsenal fans -- is that he never hides and always works hard.His ratio of 20 goals in 53 games for France is better than Benzemas 27 in 81, and Giroud has played much more as a substitute than Benzema.Benzema, a two-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid -- where he has scored 161 goals -- is not playing at Euro 2016. He is facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena and coach Didier Deschamps left him out.Some observers view Girouds success as a triumph over Benzema, having been in his shadow.Its not a view thats shared by Giroud, whose career path saw him play for unheralded French clubs Grenoble, Istres and Tours, before winning the French title with Montpellier in 2011-12 and securing a move to the Premier League.Im not turning it into anything personal, Giroud said. (Karim) will be back in the (France) team. I dont have any problems with him.At the 2014 World Cup, Frances attacking trio in the 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany was Valbuena, Benzema and Antoine Griezmann.On Thursday, Griezmann and Dimitri Payet will be looking to play Giroud into goal scoring positions, while the Arsenal forward will be aiming to lay the ball off for his teammates.Together, the three players have scored 10 of Frances 11 goals at Euro 2016 -- Griezmann with a tournament-leading four and Payet three. Each of the three has also provided two assists.There is chemistry between us, Giroud said. ' ' '