Top 3 Vezina Trophy Candidates As Season Wraps Up
We started on D with the top Norris Trophy candidates, then moved on to the fabulous freshman, with a look at the top 3 Calder Trophy contenders, and now we'll move between the pipes.
Linus Ullmark
It's been a historic season for the Boston Bruins, and goaltender Linus Ullmark has certainly been a major factor in that. He leads the NHL in practically every statistic that's ever been invented to measure a netminder's performance. To wit:
- 40 Wins — 1st (40-6-1 record)
- 1.89 GAA — 1st (goals against average)
- .938 SV% — 1st (save percentage)
- 48.3 GSAA — 1st (goals saved above average)
- 65 GA % — 1st (goals against percentage; he's 35% better than average)
LINUS ULLMARK SAYS NO ❌❌❌
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 9, 2023
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/oVc9NaSbCI
Ilya Sorokin
Shutouts. Now there's a category that Ullmark actually doesn't lead the world in. That's where the New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin stands above the rest, with a league-leading six shutouts this season. His other numbers are impressive enough — 31 wins, 2.34 GAA and .924 SV%. And then you look at what he's done down the stretch:
Ilya Sorokin over his final 8 starts:
— Up The Turnpike (@UpTheTurnpike) April 13, 2023
.934 sv%
1.86 GAA
1 shutout
Stud #Isles pic.twitter.com/uDVtmP2twL
Over his final eight games, Sorokin has a 1.86 GAA, a .934 SV% and a shutout. Write him in as one of the finalists for the Vezina.
Connor Hellebuyck
Where would the Winnipeg Jets be this season without the eight-year veteran between the pipes? Almost certainly, out of the playoffs. But Hellebuyck has come up with another masterful performance in Winterpeg this season, and with 37 wins, a 2.49 GAA and a .920 SV%, he at least has to be given some consideration as having an outside shot at earning his second Vezina Trophy.
Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
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