NEW YORK -- Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has a chance to win his third straight and fourth total Frank J. Selke Trophy after the NHL announced its three finalists on Thursday.
Bergeron, along with Anaheim's Ryan Kesler and Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar were nominated by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association for the trophy that is awarded "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game."
The 30-year-old Bergeron led the league this season in faceoffs with 1,978 draws and wins with 1,130. He produced 32 goals and 68 points in 80 games while averaging 19:50 of ice time per contest, second among Bruins forwards.
Bergeron has been nominated for the Selke Trophy five seasons in a row and he won the award in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and finished second in voting in 2013.
Kesler helped the Ducks record the lowest team goals-against average in the NHL (2.29) for the first time in franchise history. He led all players in both defensive-zone face-off wins (441) and short-handed faceoff wins (168) as the Ducks' penalty killers posted the league's top percentage (87.2 per cent). He scored 21 goals and 53 points in 79 games.
Kesler was a Selke Trophy finalist each season from 2009-11 with Vancouver.
Kopitar led all forwards in total ice time (1,690:12), an average of 20:52 per game, on the club that ranked third in the NHL in team defence, allowing an average of 2.34 goals a contest. He placed second in the NHL in plus-minus (+34) and had 25 goals and 74 points in 81 games -- the most among the three finalists.
Kopitar is a Selke finalist for the third consecutive season, finishing second in voting in 2014 and third in 2015.
The winner will be announced June 22 during the 2016 NHL awards.
