Tuukka Rask Will Get A Chance At Another Vezina Trophy

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask could become just the second active NHL goalie to win the Vezina Trophy twice. Rask, along with Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebucyk and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy were named as the three finalists for the 2020 Vezina Trophy. 

2019-20 Vezina Trophy finalist: Tuukka Rask@tuukkarask, who captured the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14, is vying for his second win in as many appearances as a finalist. https://t.co/oe3aoZcBB2 #NHLStats #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/H1qrtEyHSP

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 17, 2020

Rask won the Vezina following the 2013-14 season after going 36-15-6 record with a 2.04 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and posting seven shutouts. This season Rask was 26-8-6 record with five shutouts, a 2.12 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. He led the NHL in both goals-against average and save percentage (minimum 30 starts) and was tied for second in shutouts. 

Rask would join Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2013 and 2017, as the only active netminders to bring home the trophy given to the goalie the NHL general managers deem to be the best in the league. Dominik Hasek (6), Martin Brodeur (4), Patrick Roy (3), Tim Thomas (2) and Ed Belfour (2) are the only other goaltenders in league history to win multiple Vezina Trophies in the modern era (since 1981).

Rask and fellow Bruins goaltender Jaro Halak already won the 2019-20 William Jennings Trophy as the league’s best goaltending tandem.  

Rask, 33, was honored this season for playing in his 500th career NHL game on October 23, 2019. He’s the only goaltender in franchise history to reach the milestone, and he’s also the franchise’s winningest goalie with 291 wins. 

Rask was amazing in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs going 15-9 with a 2.02 GAA and .934 save percentage. Rask left training camp practice early on Thursday but was back on the ice Friday and is expected to be the starter when the Bruins play their first round-robin game of the NHL Return To Play Playoff format against the Philadelphia Flyers on August 2 in Toronto. Ironically, it was the Flyers who Rask blanked 2-0 for his fifth shutout of the season in what proved to be the Bruins last regular season game thanks to the NHL pausing their season two days later. 

Rask is the second member of the Bruins to be named a finalist for an NHL Award as head coach Bruce Cassidy was nominated for the Jack Adams Award for the second time this past Wednesday.