Nashville Predators Pekka Rinne Wins NHL's Vezina Trophy

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Pek-ka! Pek-ka!

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne won the National Hockey League's Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie at the annual league awards ceremony Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Rinne, 36, finished 42-13-4 with a 2.31 goals against average and a .927 save percentage with eight shutouts to lead the Predators to the President's Trophy and the Central Division title.

Rinne was a finalist for the Vezina in 2011, 2012 and 2015.

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Rinne is the first Predators player to win a performance-based award. Forward Steve Sullivan won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 2009. Mike Fisher won the NHL Foundation Award in 2012. Then-captain Shea Weber won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2012. General manager David Poile won the league's GM of the Year award last season.

The other Vezina nominees were Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevsiky.

Rinne was also named to the NHL's First All-Star team. Defenseman P.K. Subban, who finished third in the voting for the Norris Trophy as the league's best blueliner and was announced as the cover athlete for EA's NHL19 video game, was named to the second team. Rinne's back-up, fellow Finn and possible successor in the crease Juuse Saros was named to the All-Rookie team.