In the fourth edition of theScore's 2019-20 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we look at the leading candidates for the award entering the second half of the season.

5. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner is officially back in the hunt thanks to a sensational eight-week stretch.

Vasilevskiy rode a 10-game winning streak into the All-Star break, and he's gone 14-1-2 with a .933 save percentage over his last 17 starts. Since Dec. 1, he's posted a goals-against average of 2.19, slightly outplaying his expected goals against of 2.22.

The Russian netminder also gets credit for putting up elite numbers despite carrying a heavy workload. Vasilevskiy is one of just eight goalies with at least 36 starts this season, and he's tied for the lead in save percentage among that group.

4. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes

Kuemper hasn't played since exiting a Dec. 19 contest with an injury, but his body of work throughout the first three months of the season was so impressive that he can't be omitted from these rankings.

The 6-foot-5 goalie has been the backbone of Arizona's defensive identity this season, and the club hasn't been the same without him. The Coyotes have won just six times in 14 outings since Kuemper went down, and they'll need him to return in Vezina-like form amid an extremely tight Pacific Division race.

Although the injury prevented him from suiting up, the 29-year-old Kuemper also earned his first All-Star Game nod this season.

3. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

Where would the Jets be without Hellebuyck? The Vezina Trophy isn't handed out to the goalie who's deemed the most valuable, but the 26-year-old might be in a position to run away with the award right now if his teammates had given him a bit more defensive help.

Hellebuyck's high-danger save percentage looks rocky compared to the other goalies on this list, but consider this: The Jets have owned a league-worst 41.5% share of high-danger scoring chances at all strengths, and they've conceded 671 such opportunities this season, which is 45 more than the third-last club in that department.

Additionally, the 6-foot-4 puck-stopper has outplayed his expected goals against per 60 minutes and leads the NHL with 8.13 goals saved above average at five-on-five. Despite the Jets' serious defensive struggles, Hellebuyck has been dynamite.

2. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins

Rask rebounded nicely after a shaky month of December, but a concussion has kept him sidelined since Jan. 14.

The Finnish netminder allowed two or fewer goals in six of seven starts prior to the injury, and he owns a .936 save percentage since Christmas. Staying cool under pressure, Rask ranks third in high-danger save percentage among all goalies and sixth (5.61) in goals saved above average (minimum 20 starts).

Although wins and losses are primarily a team stat, the fact that Rask has dropped just four starts in regulation this season speaks volumes about his resilient play.

1. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars

Big Ben has stood tall for a Stars team that ranks 28th in goals for per game, the worst mark among all clubs that are currently in a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Dallas ranks first defensively, in large part due to Bishop's elite play.

The Colorado native has outperformed his expected goals-against average per 60 minutes by the widest margin of all netminders (minimum 20 starts). His expected save percentage is also .115 lower (.912) than his actual mark, which suggests he's often stopping more pucks than he should be.

Bishop has given the Stars a chance to win essentially every night, surrendering more than three goals on just three occasions through 33 starts. If that's not Vezina material, we don't know what is.

Honorable mention: Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues

(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick, Corsica Hockey)

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The Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes are on a list of teams interested in San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Dillon is a throwback. He's recorded just 12 points in 51 games this season, but the 29-year-old is second among NHL blue-liners with 158 hits.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound D-man has managed to post positive possession numbers on a poor Sharks team, owning a 51.5 Corsi For percentage and a 50.4 expected goals percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Dillon carries a $3.27-million cap hit, and he'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The Bruins' blue line is already strong, especially on the left side where Dillon plays. Left-handers Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara eat up a lot of minutes, and Matt Grzelcyk is on pace for a career-high in points. Right-handers Connor Clifton and Kevan Miller are currently sidelined with injuries, but both are expected back this season.

The Hurricanes appear to more urgently need reinforcements on the back end, as stalwart Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely after breaking his fibula on Jan. 26. However, unlike the Bruins - who hold a comfortable lead in the Atlantic Division - Carolina is in a tight playoff battle. The Hurricanes are a point up on the Philadelphia Flyers for the East's second wild-card spot.

The Sharks sit third last in the Western Conference, and they don't own a first-round pick in 2020. They appear to be gearing up to sell at the trade deadline for just the second time since general manager Doug Wilson was hired in 2003.

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We enjoyed a triumphant return to the ice Monday, sweeping the board for a substantial profit.

Our best bet, the Toronto Maple Leafs, was never in doubt. The Dallas Stars pushed us to 2-0 with an overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Vancouver Canucks capped things off by beating the defending Stanley Cup champions.

We're on a heater and we've got more winners tonight.

GOATs and scapegoats

There were no scapegoats on Monday night, since it's kind of hard to have one when you're perfect. Monday was chock-full of GOATs.

Frederik Andersen made 34 saves, Jamie Benn potted an overtime winner, J.T. Miller scored a pair, and Thatcher Demko edged Andersen with 36 saves against the St. Louis Blues.

Tuesday's bets

Buffalo Sabres -1.5 (+130)

No one really has fun visiting Buffalo, but the Ottawa Senators seem to have an especially unpleasant time. The Sens have lost three in a row and five of their last six against the Sabres south of the border. Ottawa allowed 18 goals in its last three road games in Buffalo while scoring two or fewer in seven of the team's last eight at KeyBank Center.

The Senators just plain stink on the road in general this season, having dropped their last seven outside Ottawa and 11 of their last 12. They're also playing this game on no rest in the midst of a 2-8 run on the second leg of back-to-backs, a spot where they're 6-18 over the past two seasons. Those are all pretty miserable numbers coming into a matchup with a Sabres team that's on an 8-3 run at home and already beat Ottawa 4-2 earlier this season when the Senators visited on no rest.

St. Louis Blues (+105)

I faded the Blues on Monday in Vancouver, but I like them Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. We're getting them at a deflated price because they just played, but the Blues have actually excelled on back-to-backs of late. They're 7-2 in the second leg over the last calendar year and 3-0 in that spot on the road this season. We also get the added bonus of Jordan Binnington starting after Jake Allen got the nod against the Canucks.

The Flames have lost three straight in at home to the Blues, scoring just three goals in those games, and they haven't been all that impressive at the Saddledome this season, posting a 5-6 record against Western Conference teams. Ride with St. Louis tonight at a discounted price.

Best bet

Jack Eichel over 0.5 plus-minus (+125)

No one slays the Senators quite like Eichel. OK, lots of players do these days, but Jack the Ripper seems to have a lot of fun when Ottawa comes to town. In three home games against the Sens in the last two seasons, Eichel has five goals and five assists. That's an outrageous 10 points in three contests. In a game that the Sabres should have no problem winning comfortably (see above and below), Eichel will likely be a driving factor for Buffalo.

To get him at a plus-minus over 0.5 should be easy. Even if he's not the one scoring the goals, he should be on the ice for a couple. In those three home games against Ottawa, Eichel was a plus-four, plus-two, and plus-two for a combined plus-eight.

Bonus plays: Sticking in the Eichel market, I'll be dabbling on Eichel to score two or more goals at +475, as well as the Eichel to score and Buffalo to win prop at +110. Getting him over 1.5 points at +125 isn't the worst bet in the world, either.

Find me in a ditch at the end of the night when Ottawa wins 3-0.

Trend of the night

The Senators are 0-4 in games started by Craig Anderson in 2020.

Rookie Marcus Hogberg has begun to take over between the pipes, with Anderson's appearances becoming more sporadic. The 38-year-old is winless in four starts in 2020 with an .862 save percentage and has allowed at least four goals against in each game. You can get the Sabres' team total over 3.5 goals at -110 and over 4.5 at +215.

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Ed Belfour is in legal trouble once again.

Early Tuesday morning, the Hall of Fame goaltender was arrested at a hotel in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and alcohol intoxication in a public place, according to an arrest report obtained by the Bowling Green Daily News and local station WNKY.

Belfour was "manifestly under the influence of alcohol to a point he was a danger to himself and others," according to the citation.

The 54-year-old was arrested just before 1:30 a.m. by Bowling Green police, who booked him into the Warren County Regional Jail about an hour and a half later, according to the jail's website.

Belfour is accused of damaging property at the hotel. He was found clutching a curtain rod that had been ripped out of the wall, and he was not compliant with officers when they attempted to handcuff him.

Police said the former netminder had "slow, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes" and "could barely stand up."

Belfour was arrested multiple times during his playing career. In 2007, he was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence after he and teammate Ville Peltonen were booked in Miami. Belfour was also arrested in 2001 after a fight with security guards and police at a Dallas hotel, after which he offered the officers $1 billion to let him go.

He pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, receiving two years probation, and enrolled in the NHL's substance abuse program as a result.

Belfour retired in 2008 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Marcus Pettersson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4,025,175, the club announced Tuesday.

Pettersson was a pending restricted free agent making $874,125 on the one-year pact he agreed to in September.

The 23-year-old has collected 15 points in 50 games while averaging 19:22 in ice time this season. He's in his second campaign with the Penguins, who acquired him in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in December 2018.

Anaheim selected Pettersson 38th overall in 2014.

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ST. LOUIS - Shea Weber is, if nothing else, a man of extremes.

He's extremely nasty and feared on the ice, remarkably nice and humble off it. He's a polarizing defenseman to evaluate, with his true impact in any given game rarely reflected in traditional or even advanced statistics. He's incredibly strong and, relative to his size, tremendously agile. He's equipped with an extraordinarily hard shot. And he's totally uninterested in talking about himself.

That last trait surfaced during All-Star Weekend. In a one-on-one interview, Weber - who's 24 NHL games shy of 1,000 - was asked how he's been able to maintain such a high level of play this year. His previous enthusiasm in discussing his seventh All-Star appearance - "This is awesome" - vanished instantly.

"I don't know, to be honest," the Montreal Canadiens captain said, his facial expression suddenly blank. "Dedication to training and preparation. Every year I prepare for the season. I've had some tough injuries the last couple of years, but I think I've worked hard to come back from those. I think that … I don't like talking about myself. It's just the hard work and dedication that comes with anything."

That dedication is paying off, both for Weber and Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. The hockey community roundly mocked Bergevin in June 2016 after he traded Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban for Weber, straight up. The criticism was warranted: Bergevin had sent the Nashville Predators a younger, more dynamic blue-liner than Weber, one whose contract was less of an albatross than Weber's monstrous 14-year deal. The swap was projected to be a landslide win for the Predators. Yet, in 2020, Subban is a member of the New Jersey Devils and Weber, at 34 years old, is excelling.

"You're in one place 10-plus years, and you get comfortable with the city, the organization, everything. And then everything is new," Weber said, reflecting on the blockbuster trade. "But I feel like I am at home again, and that I'm settled into my home. I enjoy playing here, and after the first year, it has felt more natural. In the fourth year now, it feels normal."

Weber - who was limited to only 26 games in 2017-18 and 58 games last year because of injury - hasn't missed a single contest this season. He's playing 24 minutes a night to lead all Habs skaters through 51 games, and he's posting the best possession numbers of his career. Though Montreal's underwhelming attack ranks a middling 17th overall in total offense, Weber's on pace to record at least 50 points for the fourth time in 15 years.

"He's a beast," New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider said of his 6-foot-4, 230-pound foe. "He's still hammering the puck. He still moves incredibly well. He's still stronger than an ox."

In a recent poll of 392 NHLers conducted by The Athletic, Weber finished second in the "best defensive defenseman" category. He trailed only Victor Hedman, five years Weber's junior and a franchise defender in his own right. Weber's managed to vault himself back into the conversation for the game's top blue-liner while many of his 2003 draft class peers - namely Brent Seabrook, Dustin Byfuglien, and Dion Phaneuf - are essentially irrelevant or out of the NHL entirely. Ryan Suter and Brent Burns - who's having a down year - are his closest competition from that class; at this point in time, Weber's the king.

"He plays, first and foremost, really well defensively," Calgary Flames rearguard Mark Giordano said. "Then, this year, we all know the type of shot he has, and he's been able to jump into the play it seems like a little bit more."

The numbers support Giordano's claim. According to advanced stats website Natural Stat Trick, Weber ranks first in on-ice shot attempts per 60 minutes among the 162 NHL defensemen who have logged at least 500 five-on-five minutes. The Habs attempt 69.7 shots every 60 minutes Weber is on the ice. Norris front-runner John Carlson is 27th in that regard, helping the Washington Capitals attempt 61 per hour. And, in all situations, Weber's averaging 2.9 shots on net per game, the fifth-highest rate of his career and highest since 2014-15.

The native of Sicamous, B.C., still has his fastball, too, with players across the league reporting widespread fear of his booming shot. The All-Star Skills Competition provided some visual evidence: Weber won the hardest shot contest with a blistering 106.5 mph blast.

Al MacInnis, one of the NHL's all-time great back-end snipers, has noticed Weber smartly fires away whenever a one-time pass enters his orbit. "I find that if you think there's another option there, the shot is taken away (by the defense)," said MacInnis, now a member of the St. Louis Blues' management group. "So, for me, when I'm watching him, that's his (go-to approach). That's why he's been able to be so effective, and he's getting shots through to the net."

Added Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck: "That thing just continues to pick up speed. I remember I had one moment (years ago) where he hit me in the chest. I had my chest kind of puffed up, and it almost acted like a trampoline. I sucked my chest pad in and launched it almost right back to him. He's definitely got one of the hardest (in-game) shots in the league."

Kreider recalled an occasion on which he pulled the chute on his defensive assignment, choosing instead to block a Weber howitzer and wondering how his coaches would react to that decision. "I sprinted away from the guy who was basically sitting right in front of the net in the slot because (Weber) was coming downhill for a one-timer," Kreider said. "Our coaches were basically like, 'That was a good play. We'd rather anyone shoot from high in the slot than him walking in on a one-timer.'"

That particular anecdote comes from Weber's Nashville days, an 11-year tenure that included plenty of regular-season dominance but only three playoff series wins. The Predators broke through the season after the Subban-Weber swap, ultimately losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final. The Habs lost in the first round of that same postseason and haven't returned to the playoffs since. Tied for 11th in the East after Monday's 4-2 loss to the Capitals, it'll take a momentous post-All-Star run for Montreal to earn a spot in the dance this spring.

"I think that (we're) headed in the right direction, with the young guys and the talent that's coming up," Weber said. "We're in a tough spot right now in the second half of the year, but you just can't ever count a team out. St. Louis proved a lot of people wrong, with the way they went last year toward the end there. You just never know. We still have belief in that room."

Though the Canadiens' playoff chances are dimming, Weber's still on the fringes of the conversation for the Norris Trophy (it's realistically a two-horse race between Carlson and Roman Josi), an honor he's never won. But is the league's defenseman of the year award even important to the guy former teammate Max Pacioretty calls "the ultimate leader"?

"No, not at all," Weber said. "Everybody talks about that award. It's a great accolade and thing to have, but for me, the most important thing to have is the Stanley Cup. It's the epitome of a team just getting the job done, from top to bottom - everyone - no matter what your role is. Two minutes, 25 minutes. It doesn't matter. It's the ultimate team accomplishment."

All things considered, that's an extremely Shea Weber response.

John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.

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