I think mason has the edge over Thomas simply because he plays for a much weaker team

Posted by flames_fan_89 on 01/19/09 at 01:39 AM ET

Thomas faces more shots per game and I would argue that the Blue Jackets have the better defensive system.  It is true that both goalies play behind top defences.

Posted by PuckStopsHere on 01/19/09 at 01:41 AM ET

It’s a long season. I expect there will be changes to this list but it would be exciting to see a young guy like Mason make a big splash at the year end awards.

Posted by David Hutchison from Shawnigan Lake, BC on 01/19/09 at 02:27 AM ET

1) Given that the Boston backup- (if you can really call him a back up), Manny Fernandez has excellant numbers as well, it gives added fuel to give Mason the nod.
2) Yes Boston gives up a lot of shots, but the quality of the shots is generally low. In a recent Islanders-Bruins game the Islkes far outshot the B’s, but didn’t ‘outchance’ them.

Posted by fauxrumors from Here on 01/20/09 at 10:22 AM ET

1) Also add the quality of competition in the West is generally superior.

Posted by fauxrumors from Here on 01/20/09 at 10:22 AM ET

Faux

While it is a close race between Thomas and Mason at this point and it would be entirely rational to pick either as the leader, your arguments do not hold up to scrutiny.

1) Manny Fernandez is having a good season.  That isn’t an entirely impürobably event.  He has had several good seasons in his yearsin Minnesota.  That doesn’t imply much of anything about Tim Thomas.  Your implied argument is that it is easy to have a good season as the Boston goalie (as both are doing it) doesn’t hold up.  All we have is two goalies who have had good seasons in the past having good seasons now.  All it proves is that Boston has two good goalies.

2) Both Boston and Columbus tend to give up low quality shots.  I would be hard-pressed to pick the one that allows lower quality shots (on average).  Columbus plays one of the best defensive systems in hockey under Ken Hitchcock and Bostonb clearly has a very talented defence.  I don’t see much advantage to either goalie.

3) The East Conference may be weaker than the West (their record against one another sure shows this), but the East Conference is also the higher scoring of the two (in fact those facts are related - but that’s a story for another day).  The fact that Thomas plays in the higher scoring conference is an argument in his favor and not one in Mason’s favor.

Posted by PuckStopsHere on 01/20/09 at 01:09 PM ET

Tim Thomas wont win the Vezina Trophey, Steve Mason will.  Just look at Bostons Success, The Reason why Boston is leading is due to there Defence and Forwards, The Goalies are doing great concidering there past seasons, But look at Mason, Mason doesnt have a great Defence on his Team and it makes it that much harder and Mason Leads the League, and is a Rookie, So dont be bumbed out B Fans because Mason is gonna win the Vezina not just because he is a better Goalie than Thomas, but he earned it the hard way.

Posted by Leafs41532 on 02/10/09 at 08:42 PM ET

Mason all the way, haha I dunno, they are all good goalies but Mason being a rookie and leading the league in SO, and GGA back and forth with Thomas, gotta give him credit, Thomas is good but Fernadez is just as good if not better.  Either way Boston is having a breakthrough season, but I can see a upset and that being Mason edging Thomas and Fernandez for the Vezina and Hart Trophy, I could be wrong but thats only my predictions.  It would be amazing to see Mason edge out Tim and Manny but its gonna take some work for him to do that and if I had the money to put up, id put it on Mason winning.  even if he doesnt win he has proven that he is a phenominal goalie and has a bright future ahead of him.

Posted by habs_79 on 02/22/09 at 02:31 AM ET