Vezina Trophy Power Rankings: Binnington back in the hunt
In the fifth edition of theScore's 2019-20 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we look at the leading candidates for the award through the first five months of the season.
5. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26-20-5 | 2.72 | 2.76 | .918 | .811 |
Hellebuyck's consistent play between the pipes has kept the Jets afloat in an extremely competitive Western Conference playoff race. The 26-year-old owns a .921 save percentage in the month of February and ranks third among netminders in expected goals saved above average at five-on-five on the season.
The Jets' most valuable player is heading for familiar territory in terms of workload. With 52 starts already under his belt, Hellebuyck will likely reach the 60-start mark for the third consecutive campaign.
4. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Joe Puetz / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28-11-7 | 2.63 | 2.53 | .911 | .860 |
Binnington has bounced back in a big way after an ugly January knocked him off our rankings.
Even after surrendering five goals Tuesday, the Blues puck-stopper has still allowed just six goals over his past four starts and has posted two shutouts in February. Binnington also ranks second among all netminders in both wins and high-danger save percentage.
3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Al Powers / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32-12-3 | 2.61 | 2.32 | .914 | .823 |
Vasilevskiy continues to climb up our list with his sublime play between the pipes. The Russian puck-stopper leads all netminders in wins by a wide margin and ranks third in total minutes played.
Prior to a forgettable two-game Western road trip, Vasilevskiy posted a record of 19-0-2 to go along with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage over a masterful two-month stretch.
2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars
Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21-13-4 | 2.45 | 2.52 | .922 | .846 |
The league's largest puck-stopper has been a model of consistency between the pipes all decade. With three top-three finishes in Vezina voting over the last eight seasons, Bishop has put himself in a strong position to finally capture the elusive hardware in 2019-20.
The 33-year-old has given the goal-starved Stars a chance to win nearly every night. He's allowed two or fewer goals in 64% of his starts and has only conceded four or more on six occasions.
1. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23-7-6 | 2.22 | 2.31 | .926 | .853 |
Rask is back at the top of our rankings for the first time since this season's opening edition.
The Finn ranks fifth among netminders in standard save percentage and third in high-danger save percentage. He sits second in goals saved above average at five-on-five. Before allowing 10 goals over his last two starts, Rask had surrendered two or fewer tallies in 11 straight outings, boasting a .951 save percentage in those games.
(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick, Corsica Hockey)
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