Vezina race too close to call

This season, there are three goaltenders that have gone above and beyond for their hockey clubs by not only winning games, but doing so at an unbelievably efficient level: Boston's Tim Thomas, New York's Henrik Lundqvist and Detroit's Jimmy Howard. They have all been dynamite for their respective clubs this season and, as of right now, all have a good shot at the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender.

Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

One would figure that after winning a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy as the league's most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender, there would be no way a player could do better, right?

WRONG. Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas is once again having a remarkable season for his hockey team. Thomas has 17 wins (5th in the NHL), a 1.90 goals-against average (3rd), a .940 save percentage (2nd) and four shutouts (2nd). He's actually on pace to have a better regular season than 2010-11, which is remarkable.

He continues to find ways to keep his team in every hockey game, while also continuing to show that he really is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Lundqvist is not only the model of consistency for his Rangers hockey team, but also for NHL goaltenders as a whole.

This season, Lundqvist is 17-7-4 with a 1.92 GAA (4th), a .937 save percentage (4th) and three shutouts (5th). The "King" is well on his way to his seventh straight 30-win season. He has been sensational since the start of November, winning 15 of his 20 starts and posting 1.74 GAA.

Lundqvist is one of the main reasons why the Blueshirts are at the top of the Eastern Conference and NHL, while also continuing to prove to the league that he could be considered the best goaltender in the NHL.

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

When people talk about the Red Wings, it is usually about how good their offense is, how great guys like Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom are or how dangerous a hockey team that are.

What people should be talking about is the play of Wings' goaltender Jimmy Howard. Howard has 24 wins (1st), a 1.99 GAA (6th), a .927 save percentage (8th) and four shutouts (2nd).

Howard does not have the same defense that he used to and has more than made up for that with timely saves, not allowing as many soft goals as he used to and by being someone who can play in a lot of games.

It should be a fight to the finish for this three-horse race when it comes to who wins the Vezina Trophy in June.

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