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Vasilevskiy wins second Vezina, leads league with 39 wins

6/7/2026

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Summary

Vasilevskiy Wins Vezina

Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy, his second after the 2018-19 season.
General managers gave him 17 of 31 first-place votes.
He led NHL goaltenders with 39 wins, a 39-15-14 record and a .912 save percentage.
Vasilevskiy posted a 2.31 goals-against average in 58 starts, helping Tampa Bay finish second in the Atlantic Division and earn a ninth straight playoff berth.

Summary

Vasilevskiy Receives Trophy

Tampa police handed the Vezina Trophy to Vasilevskiy as he left Benchmark International Arena, retrieving it from a bag in his vehicle during an investigation.
The NHL said the surprise hand-off aimed to generate viral moments during award announcements.
Vasilevskiy stays with the Lightning through 2028 on a $9.5 million cap hit, posted a .897 save percentage in the 2026 playoffs and tied the longest streak with nine straight appearances.

History

Historical Context

The Vezina Trophy, created in 1927 to honor Canadiens goalie Georges Vezina, originally went to the netminder of the team allowing the fewest goals. After the 1981-82 shift to a general-manager vote for the league’s best goaltender, legends like Ken Dryden (1977) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (2024) have used the award to boost contracts and franchise identity.

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Vasilevskiy Wins Vezina

Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy, his second after the 2018-19 season.
General managers gave him 17 of 31 first-place votes.
He led NHL goaltenders with 39 wins, a 39-15-14 record and a .912 save percentage.
Vasilevskiy posted a 2.31 goals-against average in 58 starts, helping Tampa Bay finish second in the Atlantic Division and earn a ninth straight playoff berth.

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