Canadiens goalie Price top choice for Vezina Trophy

With the 2014-15 season complete, NHL.com looks at some of the biggest storylines and award contenders.

The Montreal Canadiens won their final three games of the regular season and finished in first place in the Atlantic Division. Without the play of their goaltender over the past six months, there's little chance they would have finished anywhere near the top.

Carey Price completed an outstanding season with a 4-3 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. After allowing four goals in back-to-back losses on March 30 and April 2, Price responded by winning his last three starts of the season.

Price finished with the most wins (44), the best goals-against average (1.96) and best save percentage (.933). He finished tied for second in the League with nine shutouts. 

That is why Price is NHL.com's pick to win the Vezina Trophy as the League's top goaltender. If selected, it would be the first time Price has won the award.

"You want to reflect on it, but you don't want to get too caught up in looking back," Price told the Canadiens website. "It's been working all season long with goal setting and looking forward. I don't want to start resting on a good season yet. I've always been a guy that kind of looks forward. Now that that's over with, I'm just looking forward to getting started with the playoffs."

FINALISTS

Devan Dubnyk

Goalie - MIN

RECORD: 36-14-4
GAA: 2.07 | SVP: .929

In 19 road games with the Wild, Dubnyk went 15-2-1 with a 1.53 GAA, a .949 save percentage and three shutouts. He allowed two or fewer goals in 16 of those games.

"No reflecting until late June, hopefully," Dubnyk said when asked about his remarkable three months with the Wild.

Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals -- Holtby was a workhorse for the Capitals this season. He

Braden Holtby

Goalie - WSH

RECORD: 41-20-10
GAA: 2.22 | SVP: .923

"I mean, I like playing," Holtby said, according to The Washington Post. "That's the reason we play hockey. I like it. I like to be able to play a lot, but at the same time you try not to get complacent just knowing that I'll play another game and don't worry about this one. I want to make sure I prepare for every single one of them. That's something I pride myself on, is my mental game. That's kind of what has got me to this level, so I like playing a lot."

Also in the mix: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators; Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins; Andrew Hammond, Ottawa Senators

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