SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Hockey League (NHL) presented Minnesota Wild goaltenders Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez with the William M. Jennings Trophy this afternoon as part of a special awards presentation to honor the winners of three regular season championships at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa. The William M. Jennings Trophy goes to the goaltenders that played in at least 25 games on the team that allowed the fewest goals. Backstrom and Fernandez paced the Wild to a league-low 191 goals-against this season.
In addition, Backstrom received the Bank of America Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award today. The award is presented to the goaltender having played a minimum of 25 games with the NHL’s best save percentage during the regular season. Backstrom posted a 23-8-6 record in 41 games during his first season in the NHL and led the league with a .929 save percentage and 1.97 goals against average (GAA). Fernandez appeared in 44 games for Minnesota and recorded a 22-16-1, a 2.55 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
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