Sergei Bobrovsky nominated for Masterton Trophy

COLUMBUS, OHIO -The Columbus chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has nominated Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the club announced today. The award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Bobrovsky, 28, has set a club record and career high for wins this season, compiling a 40-13-5 record with a 1.99 goals-against average, .934 save percentage and seven shutouts in 58 games. He currently leads the NHL in wins, goals-against average and save percentage and is tied for second in shutouts. The Novokuznetsk, Russia native also made his NHL All-Star Game debut in January. The 2012-13 Vezina Trophy winner is 180-103-30 with a 2.44 GAA, .920 SV% and 19 SO in 325 career NHL games with Columbus and Philadelphia.

Last season, Bobrovsky missed 35 games due to injury and went 15-19-1 with a 2.75 GAA, .908 SV% and one SO in 37 games, which was his fewest number of appearances since joining the Blue Jackets prior to the 2012-13 season. In 2014-15, injuries cost him 23 games and an appearance in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game played at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

The winner of the Masterton Trophy is selected by a poll of the 30 chapters of the PHWA at the conclusion of the regular season. The trophy was first presented by the NHL writers in 1968 in honor of the late Bill Masterton, a player for the Minnesota North Stars who exhibited the qualities for which the trophy embodies, and who died on Jan. 15, 1968. Last year's winner was Dominic Moore of the New York Rangers. Previous Blue Jackets nominees for the award include: Kevin Dineen (2000-01 and 2001-02, finalist both years), Luke Richardson (2002-03), Manny Malhotra (2003-04), Duvie Westcott (2005-06), Fredrik Norrena (2006-07), Pascal Leclaire (2007-08), Raffi Torres (2008-09), Jared Boll (2009-10), Derek MacKenzie (2010-11), Curtis Sanford (2011-12), Vinny Prospal (2012-13) Nick Foligno (2013-14 and 2014-15) and Fedor Tyutin (2015-16).
The Blue Jackets return to action on Tuesday when they host the Buffalo Sabres. Game time from Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio HD begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Eldorado Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including flagship station 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, and online at BlueJackets.com.