Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk is one of three finalists for the Masterton Award – the NHL’s top award for players who showcase exceptional perseverance.
According to the Pioneer Press, Dubnyk was nominated by the Minnesota chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association after persevering through a rollcoaster year on the ice. The goalie finished the 2013-14 season in the minor leagues and was a backup for Arizona this season until Minnesota traded for him on Jan. 14.
Thirty-eight consecutive starts later Dubnyk was getting MVP chants from the crowds at Xcel Energy Center because he was the key element in reviving a season that looked hopeless for the Wild. Minnesota went 27-9-2 in Dubnyk’s franchise-record long starts streak, and he guided them to the top wild-card seed in the Western Conference.
Ottawa goalie Andrew Hammond and Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang are the other finalists, according to NHL.com.
The only player in Wild history to win the award is Josh Harding, who won it in 2013.
Dubnyk was fantastic in Minnesota’s first-round playoff series victory against the St. Louis Blues, and he’ll be between the pipes when the Wild and Blackhawks begin a best-of-seven series Friday night in Chicago.
The award is named after former North Star Bill Masterton, who died in 1968 after suffering an injury during a game.
Dubnyk also is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s best goaltender.
