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Dallas Stars: Comparing Ben Bishop To 2019 Vezina Trophy Finalists

By Josh Clark

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 13: Ben Bishop #30 of the Dallas Stars tends net against the Nashville Predators in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 13: Ben Bishop #30 of the Dallas Stars tends net against the Nashville Predators in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 16: Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends the net during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 16, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 16: Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends the net during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 16, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Record: 39-10-4

Save percentage: .925

Goals against average: 2.40

Shutouts: 6

Next up is the goaltender that backstopped for one of the best regular season teams in the history of the NHL.

When the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft came into focus, the Tampa Bay Lightning had a decision to make in their crease. Would they keep Ben Bishop, a goaltender in the middle of his prime at the time that had recently taken the Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final? Or would they go with Andrei Vasilevskiy, the young phenom that had established himself as one of the best backups in the NHL?

With the expansion rules only allowing teams to keep one goalie, the Lightning decided to deal Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings at the Trade Deadline and commit to Vasilevskiy for the future.

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    • And so far, he hasn’t disappointed them.

    During the 2018-19 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning were electric (for lack of a better pun). Tampa Bay surged through the regular season, posting a record of 62-16-4 with 128 points on the year. Just for reference, the next closest team to them in the standings was the Calgary Flames with 107 points.

    The Lightning tied the NHL record for most wins in a season and only built two losing skids in total, with neither one lasting more than two games. Simply put: they were a heavy Stanley Cup favorite for the entire regular season before a monumental collapse in the opening round of the playoffs that led to them being swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    But we’re here to talk about the regular season and, more importantly, the impressive play of their goaltender.

    Vasilevskiy started in 53 games for the Lightning during the season and recorded a mark of 39-10-4, giving him more wins than any goalie in the NHL. In addition, he also posted a save percentage of .925 and goals against average of 2.40. Both of those numbers are career-highs for the 24-year-old. He also registered six shutouts on the year.

    With another dominant year, this is Vasilevskiy’s second consecutive Vezina nomination. He finished third in the voting in 2018.

    When comparing him to Bishop, there are two main factors that come into play. On the one hand, he does have 12 more wins than the Dallas Stars net minder. So, if wins are the primary deciding factor, he has a clear advantage.

    On the other hand, though, Vasilevskiy had the best offense in the NHL playing in front of him. While the Lightning averaged 3.89 goals per game, the Stars put up 2.55 for Bishop (28th in the NHL). So, while Vasilevskiy was good when he needed to be, Bishop had to be good on a nightly basis if his team had any hope of winning.

    Most of the Vegas odds have Bishop and Vasilevskiy as the top two contenders for the trophy, and it’s obvious why. Both built a legitimate case using career-best performances and each have a valid claim for the award.

    But if Vasilevskiy does win, it will come via his league-leading 39 wins and stellar showing throughout the season as he backstopped the Lightning to the President’s Trophy.

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