April 22th

BRODEUR, LUNDQVIST, NABOKOV VEZINA TROPHY FINALISTS

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks are the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy in 2007-08, awarded "to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position".

Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

Brodeur has earned his eighth career nomination as a finalist and is in quest of his fourth career win; he captured the trophy in 2003, 2004 and 2007. Brodeur posted a 44-27-6 record with a 2.17 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and four shutouts in 2007-08, ranking among League leaders in minutes played (first, 4,635), victories (second) and goals-against average (fifth). He became just the second goaltender in NHL history to reach the 500-win mark, following Patrick Roy, and ended the season with 96 career shutouts, seven shy of all-time leader Terry Sawchuk. He extended NHL records by registering his third consecutive and seventh career 40-win season, and 10th consecutive campaign with 70-or-more games.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Lundqvist is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the third consecutive season, having placed third in 2006 and 2007. He posted a 37-24-10 record with a 2.23 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 72 games and led all NHL goaltenders with 10 shutouts. He tied his career high in victories, set last season, and is only the second goaltender in NHL history to record three consecutive 30-win seasons to begin his career, joining Philadelphia's Ron Hextall (1986-87 to 1988-89). Lundqvist's 10 shutouts were the most by a Rangers goaltender since John Ross Roach posted 13 in 1928-29.

Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks

Nabokov, a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time, led the NHL in victories (46), just two shy of Brodeur's NHL-record 48 set last season, and posted 25 one-goal victories, second to Brodeur's 26. He ranked second among NHL goaltenders in minutes played (4,561), third in goals-against average (2.14) and tied for third in shutouts (six). Nabokov posted a 43-game consecutive-start streak to begin the season, one short of the longest such streak since 1989-90. He had started 51 consecutive games dating back to March 24, 2007 before getting the night off in Anaheim Jan. 13.

The Vezina Trophy was presented to the National Hockey League in 1926-27 by former Montreal Canadiens owners Leo Dandurand, Louis Letourneau and Joe Cattarinich in memory of Georges Vezina, the outstanding Canadiens goaltender who collapsed during an NHL game on Nov. 28, 1925 and died of tuberculosis a few months later. Until 1981-82, the trophy had been awarded to the goaltender(s) on the club allowing the fewest number of goals during the regular season -- the current basis for the William Jennings Trophy.


NHLPA ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERS OF COMPETITION COMMITTEE

Brian Campbell of the San Jose Sharks, Jeff Halpern of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, Mathieu Schneider of the Anaheim Ducks and Jason Spezza of the Ottawa Senators have been selected by the executive board of the NHL Players' Association as the new player representatives on the competition committee.

The five new players, who will serve two-year terms, replace Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings, Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, Trevor Linden of the Vancouver Canucks and Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers - who had served since the committee's inception after the NHL lockout. Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils was also an original member but quit last year and was never replaced.

"The outgoing players on the committee deserve a great deal of gratitude for the work they have done to improve our game over the last three seasons," Paul Kelly, the NHLPA's executive director, said in a statement. "The NHLPA is looking forward to our newest members representing their fellow players on this important committee."

The NHL's representatives on the committee remain the same at this point: GMs Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens, Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers, David Poile of the Nashville Predators, Don Waddell of the Atlanta Thrashers and owner Ed Snider of the Philadelphia Flyers.

The next competition committee meeting will take place June 13 in Toronto. By then it's possible the NHL will have new members as well.

"We will review our present status with our group before the next competition committee meeting in June," Colin Campbell, the NHL's executive vice-president and director of hockey operations, said Monday.

Campbell and NHLPA ombudsman Eric Lindros participate in the competition committee meetings but do not have voting rights.

The committee was formed in the new collective bargaining agreement as a joint effort to come up with recommendations to improve the game. The committee's findings get sent to the NHLPA's executive board (the 30 player reps) and then to the NHL's board of governors (owners).


A-ROD TO REJOIN YANKS TODAY

Alex Rodriguez is expected to rejoin the Yankees on Today in Chicago, having been diagnosed with a mild strain of his right quadriceps.

Rodriguez was injured legging out a fielder's choice in Sunday's 7-1 victory at Baltimore, flexing his right leg before being replaced by a pinch-runner.

He returned to New York to be examined and was to see a physical therapist on Monday, Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo told the Associated Press

If Rodriguez is to miss games due to the injury, Morgan Ensberg will likely be used as the interim third baseman. Derek Jeter missed six games with a strained left quadriceps last week.

The Yankees will reevaluate Rodriguez on today at U.S. Cellular Field, where the club opens a three-game series with the White Sox. Rodriguez is batting .308 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 20 games this season.


Todays NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule

-(6) Philadelphia @ (3) Washington -- Game 7 -- 6pm -- Versus (Series tied 3-3)

-(7) Calgary @ (2) San Jose -- Game 7 -- 9pm -- Versus (Series tied 3-3)