Tuesday, Vasilevskiy was announced as one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, awarded at season's end to the top goalie in the league, along with Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck.
Vasilevskiy finished the 2017-18 regular season with a 44-17-3 record, a 2.62 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Vasilevskiy tied for the NHL lead for wins with Hellebuyck, becoming the first Tampa Bay goalie to ever finish the regular season first in the NHL for wins. Vasilevskiy's eight shutouts were also tied for most in the league along with Rinne.
Vasilevskiy played in his first NHL All-Star Game this season. On April 3, 2018, after making all 33 saves to shut out the Boston Bruins, his Lightning record eighth shutout of the season, Vasilevskiy collected his 84th career victory to pass Nikolai Khabibulin for second on the Bolts' all-time wins list.
No Tampa Bay Lightning goalie has ever won the Vezina. Ben Bishop came closest when he finished second for the 2016 award after posting a 35-21-4 record to go along with a 2.06 GAA and .926 save percentage. Bishop also finished third in the 2014 Vezina voting.
