Backstrom, Mason, Thomas vie for Vezina (best goalie).

[Forkboy]

Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild -- Many are likely to see this contest as between Thomas and Mason, thinking that 2006 Vezina winner Miikka Kiprusoff, who led the NHL this season in games played and wins, or New York Rangers goalie Henrick Lundquist or 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Cam Ward could have been the third candidate.

But Backstrom's candidacy deserves serious consideration. He went 37-24-8 for a team that finished out of the playoffs while his backup went 3-9-1. He gained 58 percent of the team's available points in games he played while the Wild earned 54 percent overall.

Simply put, Backstrom was the best player on his team.
--
Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets -- The Detroit Red Wings were in steep decline, they hadn't finished better than fourth in six-straight seasons, when Roger Crozier lifted them to a first-place finish in the 1964-65 regular season.

Fast forward to Mason, just 20, who led the Columbus Blue Jackets to their first Stanley Cup Playoff berth in their eight-year history.

Seventy years ago, Brimsek debuted with a loss, then posted three-straight shutouts, en route to 10 for the season, and added a first-place regular-season finish and the Stanley Cup, the only one of the four Vezina-Calder winners to do that. Esposito posted 15 shutouts as a rookie, second only to Hainsworth's 22 in 44 games in 1928-29.

Make no mistake, Mason's accomplishments this season rival those historic seasons. He led the NHL with 10 shutouts, finished second with a 2.29 GAA, tied for 11th with a .916 save percentage, was eighth in minutes played and ninth in wins. He went 33-20-7 in 61 games. He led all rookie goalies in every category except save percentage, finishing second to the .917 posted by Nashville's Pekka Rinne.
--
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins -- For the second year in a row, Thomas was spectacular. He was the primary reason the Bruins won the Northeast Division, had the best record in the Eastern Conference and fought for the best record in the NHL down to the second-last game of the season.

Thomas led the NHL with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage and had five shutouts. He went 36-11-7, gaining 83 percent of the available points in his games for his team.

Thomas, 35, tied Anaheim's Jonas Hiller for the league lead with four shootout road wins and stopped the only penalty shot he faced.

Facing power plays, only Backstrom and New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist were better than Thomas's .905 save percentage.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420301

[mmonk]

1. Thomas has done a great job.

[chollybocker]

2. Tim Thomas.

Solid and consistent starts from day 1.

[Forkboy]

3. I agree with you and mmonk, but I'm way too biased to be fair.

:)

He's a real good guy, and he worked his ass off for a chance in the NHL after slogging away in the minors for so long. He made the most of his chance and hasn't looked back. I hope he wins it.

[mmonk]

4. There's no rule that says you can't be biased. It's just this time,

you also happen to be right.;-)