Vezina Trophy: Most Outstanding Goalie
Winner: Josh Harding – Minnesota Wild
Josh Harding’s first half performance has been nothing short of inspiring. The Minnesota puck-stopper picked up the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy last season for persevering through multiple sclerosis to continue playing professional hockey. This year, he has taken his game to another level. Harding’s 1.51 goals-against average and .939 save-percentage are the best among goalies with ten or more starts. His 18 wins at the midway point in the season are already his career best. If Harding can back-stop the Wild into the playoffs, then he could be rewarded with goaltending’s highest honor.
Runner Up: Tuukka Rask – Boston Bruins
The Bruins gave Tuukka Rask a massive contract extension following his brilliant 2013 postseason run, and so far Boston’s faith in the Finnish goalie has been justified. Rask is one of four netminders with 20 wins at this point in the season. Allowing just 1.89 goals per game and stopping 93.6 percent of shots on net, the 26-year-old has unquestionably joined the NHL’s elite.
