Thomas is up against Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo and Nashville’s Pekka Rinne for the award, which is given to the “the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position.”
Thomas led the league in goals-against average with a sterling 2.00 mark, with Luongo (2.11) and Rinne (2.12) behind him. Thomas also led the league in save percentage (.938), with Rinne (.930) in second and Luongo (.928) in third, among goalies who qualify.
Thomas was second in the league with nine shutouts, trailing only New York’s Henrik Lundqvist (11). Rinne had six, putting him in a tie for sixth, while Luongo had four, which put him in a tie for 14th-most in the league.
Thomas won the award after the 2008-09 season, when he posted a 2.10 GAA and a .933 save percentage. Neither Luongo or Rinne has won the award.
