Tampa Bay Lightning's Ben Bishop and Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche are the other two finalists, adjudged to be among the best at their position by a vote of the league's 30 General Managers at the end of the season.
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| Rask led all goaltenders in save percentage and shutouts |
The Trophy will be awarded to the best at the position at the NHL's annual awards gala in Las Vegas on June 24th.
Though Varlamov is considered a slight favorite to take the award - what with his consideration for the Hart and his league leading and franchise record-breaking 41 wins, despite facing 150 more shots than any other goalie - a more compelling argument can be made for Rask.
The Finnish Olympian led the league in shutouts with seven, led all qualifiers with a .929 save percentage and ended up fifth in the league in goals against average with a sterling 2.06 - Varlamov was close in save percentage but severely lacking in the other two...
...while Bishop, who was the favorite for the award heading into the New Year, faded with the rest of the Lightning down the stretch but still ended up with a solid 2.23/.924 stat line with five shutouts - but is considered the long shot of the group.
Rask also led his team to the President's Trophy for the best record in the league, while he and backup Chad Johnson finished second to the Los Angeles Kings' trio of netminders for the Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goaltending tandem that allows the fewest goals in a season. Rask also won a career best 35 games, six behind Varmalov despite playing in six fewer games.
Bruins' Patrice Bergeron was named a finalist for the Selke Trophy on Thursday - awarded to the best defensive forward in the NHL - and it is expected that Zdeno Chara's name will be among the finalists for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the best defenseman in the league, when that announcement is made on Monday.
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