Bolts’ Ben Bishop Is A Vezina Trophy Finalist

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop has been named a finalist for the 2014 Vezina Trophy. The award goes to the league’s best goalie as voted on by the NHL general managers.  (Photo/Susan Ferlita)

Here is the release from the NHL:

The general managers of the 30 NHL clubs submitted ballots for the  Vezina Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three  vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Tuesday, June 24, during the 2014 NHL Awards from Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. The 2014 NHL Awards will be broadcast by NBCSN in the United States and CBC  in Canada. 

Following are the finalists for the Vezina Trophy, in alphabetical  order:

Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning
Bishop set multiple franchise records in backstopping the Lightning  to a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division in his first season as a  starter. He became the Lightning’s all-time leader for wins in a season with his 31st on Mar. 15 against New Jersey and finished the season ranked fourth in the NHL with 37. Bishop also set a franchise mark in save percentage (.924). He tied for fourth in the League in shutouts (five) and placed seventh in goals-against average (2.23). Bishop is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time and the first Lightning nominee for the award since Daren Puppa placed third in 1996.

 Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Rask posted a 36-15-6 record, highlighted by a career-best 10-game point streak from Mar. 20-30 (9-0-1), as the Bruins captured their first Presidents’ Trophy since 1990 and led the Eastern Conference in team defense (2.08 GA/game). He allowed two goals or fewer in 37 of 58 starts,  set single-season highs in wins and appearances, and was the only goaltender to rank among the NHL’s top five in each of the major statistical categories: first in shutouts (seven), second in save percentage (.930), fourth in goals-against average (2.04) and fifth in wins. Rask is a first-time Vezina finalist.

 Semyon Varlamov, Colorado Avalanche
Varlamov led the NHL and set a franchise record with 41 victories, surpassing Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy’s previous single-season high of 40 in 2000-01, and joins Roy (1996-97) as the only goaltenders in club history to top the League in wins. He ranked first in the NHL in shots  faced (2,013) and saves (1,867) and thrived under the heavy workload, posting a 7-1-1 mark when facing 40 or more shots and going 32-4-4 when facing 30-plus shots. Varlamov is a Vezina finalist for the first time and the first Avalanche goaltender nominated for the award since Roy was runner-up to Montreal’s Jose Theodore in 2001-02.

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