Andrei Vasilevskiy Wins Second Vezina Trophy in Close Vote Over Sorokin
The 31-year-old netminder led the NHL with 39 wins and appeared on 28 of 32 ballots. Tampa Bay police presented the award outside Benchmark International Arena.
ESPNAndrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Vezina Trophy for the second time. The 31-year-old goaltender received 17 first-place votes and appeared on 28 of 32 ballots cast by NHL general managers. Vasilevskiy led the league with 39 wins in 58 starts and finished the season 39-15-4.
912 save percentage and two shutouts while guiding the Lightning to their ninth straight postseason appearance. The win total made him the sixth goalie in NHL history to record nine 30-win seasons. His active streak of nine consecutive 30-win seasons trails only Martin Brodeur's 12.
Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders received eight first-place votes. Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals and Scott Wedgewood of the Colorado Avalanche each received two first-place votes. Vasilevskiy was leaving Benchmark International Arena when Tampa Bay police officers and a K-9 unit member presented him with the trophy.
The surprise presentation was part of the NHL's effort to generate viral moments during award announcements. The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the goaltender judged best at the position and is voted on by the league's general managers.
