Lundqvist, Quick, Rinne named Vezina finalists
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville's Pekka Rinne have been named finalists for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.
Lundqvist helped the Rangers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference and is a finalist for the fourth time. He finished third in the balloting from 2006-08.
The Swedish native posted a record of 39-18-5 in 62 appearances, setting a career high for wins and becoming the first NHL netminder with 30-plus wins in each of his first seven seasons. He was fourth in goals-against average at 1.97, fourth in save percentage at .930 and tied for third with eight shutouts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Quick led the NHL with a franchise-record 10 shutouts, posted a record of 35-21-13 and was second in the league with a 1.95 goals-against average. He became the first Kings netminder with 30 wins in three straight seasons.
The first-time Vezina finalist was brilliant for an offensively starved Kings team that ranked 29th in goals scored. He allowed one goal or shut out the opponent in 27 games, notching a record of 18-5-4 in those outings, and surrendered two goals or fewer 46 times.
Rinne is a finalist for the second year in a row and last spring finished as the runner-up to Boston's Tim Thomas. He led the NHL with 43 wins, as well as shots faced with 2,153 and saves with 1,987, while tying for the league lead with 73 appearances.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In guiding the Predators to the fourth seed in the Western Conference, Rinne was 43-18-8 with a 2.39 goals-against average and five shutouts.
General managers of the 30 NHL teams submitted ballots at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.
The winner will be announced during the 2012 NHL Awards program on June 20 in Las Vegas.