Price named Vezina Trophy finalist
Montreal Canadiens Media Release
MONTREAL – Carey Price was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy on Friday, which is awarded to the goaltender judged to be the best at his position as voted by the general managers of all NHL clubs.
The 27-year-old will vie for the honour alongside Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators and Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild.
Price enjoyed a remarkable 2014-15 regular season campaign, leading the League with 44 wins, a 1.96 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage, in addition to registering nine shutouts, one back of Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. He also made his fourth career appearance at the NHL All-Star Game back in January.
The Anahim Lake, BC native established several franchise records during the year, including setting a new mark for securing the most wins in a single season. He surpassed the previous mark of 42 victories recorded twice by Jacques Plante (1955-56 and 1961-62) and once by Ken Dryden (1975-76). Price also rattled off a team-record 10 straight road wins between December 23 and February 26.
His stellar work earned him his first career William M. Jennings Trophy, sharing the honour with Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks. The award is given to the goaltender(s) who played at least 25 games for the club(s) while allowing the fewest number of goals. Both Montreal and Chicago gave up 189 goals during the regular season. It’s the first time since the 2002-03 campaign that goaltenders on two separate teams claimed the award.
Montreal goaltenders have captured the Vezina Trophy 28 times over the years, with 12 different players accomplishing the feat. The last player to do so was Jose Theodore, who won the award in 2002, along with the Hart Trophy as League MVP. Both Bill Durnan and Jacques Plante boast six trophy wins as members of the CH, the most of any goaltenders in franchise history.
The NHL Awards will be held on Wednesday, June 24, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.