Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild, Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins are the finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender.
The league announced the finalists Monday. The winner, voted by general managers around the league, will be revealed June 18 at the NHL awards show in Las Vegas.
Mason, a rookie, posted a franchise-record three straight shutouts in December and helped the Blue Jackets reach the playoffs for the first time. Thomas led the NHL with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage for the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins.
Backstrom appeared in 71 games for Minnesota and ranked among the top five goaltenders in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. His 37 wins were a franchise record, and after playing in his first All-Star game he received a four-year, $24 million contract extension that will begin next season.
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo — the best goalie in the league since the NHL playoffs began — was left off the list of finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the league’s top netminder.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Luongo said after a fast-paced, physical practice, curtly dismissing questions about the Vezina a couple of times. “I’m here playing for the playoffs right now and for the Cup. I couldn’t care less about the regular season.”
Canucks get Salo, Mitchell back
Top Canucks defensemen Sami Salo and Willie Mitchell are both expected to play when Vancouver starts the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Salo was back at practice on Monday after missing Game 4 in St. Louis, and pronounced himself fit. Mitchell, who was limping after Game 4, skipped practice Monday after leaving early Saturday, but coach Alain Vigneault expects him to play.
Unknown so far is who they will play against. The Canucks have been waiting and resting since sweeping St. Louis a week ago Tuesday night.
If No. 8 seed Anaheim completes an upset of San Jose, Vancouver will open at home against the winner of the Chicago-Calgary series. If the Sharks win, Vancouver will travel to Detroit.
Capitals’ Brashear suspended
Washington forward Donald Brashear was suspended by the NHL for a total of six games — five for what the league called a “blind-side hit” on Rangers center Blair Betts — and will miss Game 7 of the teams’ first-round playoff series.
In addition to leveling Betts midway through the first period of Washington’s 5-3 victory at New York in Game 6 on Sunday, Brashear made contact with Colton Orr in pregame warmups and was barred from one game for that.
“Brashear delivered a shoulder hit to an unsuspecting player,” said Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior executive VP of hockey operations. “It is also my opinion that the hit was delivered late and targeted the head of his opponent, causing significant injury.”
Betts has a broken bone in his eye socket and was ruled out of Tuesday night’s series-deciding game in Washington. He is New York’s top penalty-killing forward.
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