Goaltenders usually have their own set of rules, both on and off the ice. This year’s NHL Awards do nothing to dissuade us from such thinking. For the first time since the NHL Awards Television Special began in 1983, there will be four finalists for an award. And sure enough, that award is the Vezina Tropy – awarded to the league’s most outstanding goalie.

Nominated this year (in alphabetical order) are Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils (seventh nomination), Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames (third nomination), Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers (second nomination) and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks (first nomination).

Interestingly, none of the finalists led the league in save percentage or Goals Against Average – both honors went to Niklas Backstrom of Minnesota who finished the season with a 1.97 GAA and .929 save percentage in 41 games. Another possible omission is Dominik Hasek of Detroit, who had the second-lowest GAA at 2.05. Minnesota and Detroit finished first and second, respectively, in fewest goals allowed in the season.

Lundqvist had a fantastic finish to the season, leading all goaltenders who played in more than 10 games after the All-Star break with a 1.80 GAA and .934 save percentage. Unfortunately, his pre-All-Star GAA was a full goal higher at 2.83 along with a rather mediocre 19-15-2 record. In fact, a seven-game stretch in December saw Lundqvist relegated to backup duty to Kevin Weekes as he worked to improve his game and get over a flu bug. The Swedish Gold Medal winner certainly showed his abilities down the stretch and in the playoffs, but a more complete season from start to finish should merit winning an award.

Kiprusoff's play in net was the difference for Calgary being a playoff team in the competitive Northwest Division. The Finnish veteran once again was a workhorse, finishing with a 40-24-9 record in 74 games. The same could be said of Brodeur and Luongo, though – both of whom played in more games and had better statistical seasons. Kiprusoff finished the season with a solid 2.34 GAA and .917 save percentage, but neither of those stats ranked among the top eight goaltenders in the league.

The award should come down to Brodeur and Luongo. Both goalies finished as the top two in the league in games played and wins while leading their respective teams to division titles. In fact, Luongo tied the league record for wins in a single season (47) while Brodeur actually set a new record with 48 wins! Brodeur had his normal stellar statistical campaign – a league-leading 12 shutouts and finishing third overall, highest of the Vezina finalists, with a .922 save percentage and 2.18 GAA. Luongo finished just below Brodeur in the rankings with a .921 save percentage and 2.29 GAA. More importantly, the 28-year-old Montreal native finally gained attention in Vancouver after playing five seasons in hockey oblivion known as south Florida. The Canucks scored 35 less goals this season compared to the 2005-06 campaign, but allowed 54 fewer goals to end up in the back of their net. That 54-goal differential over the last two years was the second-highest turnaround after the magical season of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it served as the catalyst for the Canucks returning to the playoffs.

My mind says Brodeur; my heart says Luongo. My suspicion is most will follow their heart and award the first-time nominee, Roberto Luongo, over the spectacular consistency of seven-time nominee, Martin Brodeur.