NEW YORK (Reuters) - Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres and Ilya Bryzgalov of the Phoenix Coyotes were named Vezina trophy finalists for the NHL's top netminder, the league said on Monday.
For Miller and Bryzgalov it is their first Vezina nomination while Brodeur has been nominated nine times, capturing the award on four occasions.
This season saw Brodeur continue his assault on the NHL record book, eclipsing Patrick Roy's mark for career games by a goaltender and replacing Terry Sawchuk as the NHL's all-time shutout leader.
The 37-year-old Montreal native led all goaltenders in games (77), victories (45) and shutouts (nine) and helped Canada to gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Bryzgalov's play in net was key to helping the Coyotes earn a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2002.
The Russian posted career-best totals in victories (42), games (69), shutouts (eight) as the Coyotes set franchise records for wins and points in a season.
Miller turned in a spectacular performance at the Vancouver Winter Games helping the United States to a silver medal and was no less brilliant in the Sabres net, setting a franchise record 41 wins and matching a career high with five shutouts.
The winner will be announced on June 23 at the NHL awards show in Las Vegas.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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