Early Season Top Goalie

I like to watch the NHL awards as the season progresses.  I like to pick candidates for the awards as they emerge early in the season and monitor those choices as the season progresses, in part to see how far into the season it is before the eventual winner emerges.  Today, there is a leader for the Vezina Trophy as best goalie.  It is Ilya Bryzgalov of the Phoenix Coyotes.  Bryzgalov has been the bright spot on the Phoenix Coyotes.  Phoenix has a 5-2 record which gives them the Pacific Division lead.  This is despite a lacklustre offence that has only scored 2.43 goals per game (tying them with Tampa Bay for 20th in the league).  Their success is largely due to goaltending.  The Phoenix team has allowed a league leading 1.43 goals per game.  Bryzgalov is the man who is primarily responsible for that.  He has played in six of the seven games and has a .953 saves percentage and a 1.14 GAA.  These are tremendous numbers that are unsustainable over the season.  However, a very good season from Bryzgalov (as we have seen so far) could make Phoenix a contender.  He is the primary reason that the team has a good record so far and for that is the early Vezina Trophy leader.