2013-14 NHL Picks and Predictions: Vezina Trophy Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013-14 NHL Picks and Predictions: Hart Memorial Trophy Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers: When it comes to winning games in the NHL, there is no substitute for a hot goaltender. A strong goalie can make an average team great, and a struggling goalie can cause an otherwise talented team to underperform. As a result, the NHL established the current format for the Vezina Trophy in 1981 to honor the top goaltender in the league. Dominik Hasek has won the award a record six times, but since Martin Brodeur won his fourth Vezina Trophy, four of the last five recipients have been first-time winners, including last year’s winner Sergei Brobvosky. While Bobrovsky will try to become the first player to win the award in consecutive years since Brodeur, there are plenty of other goalies waiting to take the crown. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the top contenders for the Vezina Trophy for the 2013-14 NHL season.

The Favorites

In in his first year replacing Tim Thomas as the starter, Boston’s Tuukka Rask posted the fifth-best goals against average and third-best save percentage in the NHL. He also tied for the league lead with five shutouts. Come playoff time, he led all goalies with a .940 save percentage and completely stopped the high-powered offense of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rask answered any questions about his ability to handle a full season of work in a big way last year, and with one of the best defenses in front of him again in 2013-14, an award-winning campaign could be on tap.

Entering last season, Corey Crawford was considered the potential weak point for the eventual champion Chicago Blackhawks. He turned out to be one of the team’s biggest assets as he posted the third-best goals against average and fifth-best save percentage in the NHL. Sure, he benefits from having an excellent defense in front of him and an excellent offense to support him, but if Crawford puts up similar numbers again in 2013-14, he will get heavy consideration for the Vezina Trophy.

The Dark Horses

The only thing standing between Ottawa’s Craig Anderson and the Vezina Trophy last season was an injury that limited him to just 24 starts. However, he led the NHL with a 1.69 goals against average and .941 save percentage in the starts he did make so his talent is obvious. If Anderson stays on the ice in 2013-14 and can maintain those numbers over the long haul, he could end up running away with the Vezina Trophy.

Defending Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky came out of nowhere to win the award for an otherwise mediocre Columbus team. He finished the year with the fourth-best goals against average and second-best save percentage, and his play was the main reason the Blue Jackets nearly made the playoffs. Sure, his season may have been a fluke, but if Bobrovsky can make Columbus relevant again in 2013-14, he could win the Vezina Trophy for the second year in a row.

There isn’t a steadier performer between the pipes in the NHL these days than New York’s Henrik Lundqvist. Last year, he finished sixth in the NHL in goals against average and save percentage while tying for the league lead with 24 wins. For his career, he owns a rock solid 2.25 goals against average and .921 save percentage. Lundqvist is one of the safer bets to be among the best goalies in the league, and he can never be counted out in the Vezina Trophy race.

The Sleeper

When the playoffs begin, Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick transforms into a human brick wall, but for whatever reason, he is simply average for most of the regular season. Last season was a perfect example as he posted a 2.45 goals against average and .902 save percentage during the year, but in the playoffs, he allowed just 1.86 goals per game and stopped 93.4 percent of shots. Quick is obviously one of the most talented goalies in the NHL, and if he ever figures out how to focus in the regular season, he could easily snag the Vezina Trophy.

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