Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
With the NHL’s 2024-25 regular season now well underway, there are some statistical surprises – particularly when it comes to which goalies are thriving.
But when you look at netminders with some of the best save percentage numbers in the league, you’ll see names you aren’t accustomed to seeing with such impressive numbers at the NHL level.
Veteran Ilya Samsonov has a .932 save percentage in four appearances, as well as a 3-0-1 record. Of course, Samsonov was sent packing by the Maple Leafs this summer after flaming out in a rollercoaster season last year. Samsonov also has a solid 2.21 goals-against average – and for his current salary of $1.8 million, he’s been a great bargain thus far.
Similarly, Vancouver Canucks addition Kevin Lankinen was tied for second in SP alongside Dallas Stars star netminder Jake Oettinger before Saturday at .941. Even after Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, however, Lankinen has a stellar .930 SP and 1.95 goals-against average. He’s played five of the Canucks’ seven games, including each of the last four.
Lankinen signed a one-year contract late in the pre-season for just $875,000. With Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko still not ready for action – and with youngster Arturs Silovs losing his first two games – Lankinen has been a tremendous addition to Vancouver.
Detroit Red Wings netminder Alex Lyon was a healthy scratch in the Red Wings’ season opener before the team assigned Ville Husso to the AHL for salary cap purposes. Lyon has done a nice job in five appearances, putting up a .940 save percentage, 2.05 goals-against average and five goals saved above expected, per moneypuck.com.
Lyon’s 2-2-0 record after Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres is nothing impressive, but he’s come up big in important moments, just like goalie partner Cam Talbot, to help Detroit win games it had no business of winning. The Red Wings coming out with a 1-0 win against the New York Islanders last Tuesday after being outshot 30-11 is robbery.
Other interesting goaltenders who appear in the top 15 save percentages include Toronto Maple Leafs addition Anthony Stolarz (.927), Calgary youngster Dustin Wolf (.924), Anaheim Ducks starter Lukas Dostal (.936) and Dallas Stars backup Casey DeSmith (.936)
Wolf is just adjusting to the NHL level, as he has just 21 games of regular-season experience, but he’s looked quite promising and exciting in net with a 3-1-0 record. DeSmith is on his third team in three seasons, but he’s availed himself well since joining Dallas on a three-year, $1-million-per-season contract this summer.
Dostal almost played as many games as John Gibson last season. But with the latter recovering from appendicitis, Dostal has taken charge of the crease for a rebuilding club with a 3-2-1 record. Even in the losses against Colorado, Los Angeles and the New York Rangers, Dostal recorded at least a .918 save percentage in each case. And Stolarz could very well become the Leafs’ regular starter this season unless Joseph Woll improves in his next appearances.
So far, familiar goaltending stars include Connor Hellebuyck (.940), Jake Oettinger (.938), Ilya Sorokin (.936) and Igor Shesterkin (.926). Frederik Andersen had a great return to the crease last regular season after a blood clotting issue, and that’s continuing this year with a .941 save percentage. Juuse Saros (.908) and Jeremy Swayman (.900) have stood tall in some games but could use some improvement in the long haul.
The real guessing game is wondering whether Samsonov, Lankinen, Wolf and the other emerging names mentioned can continue to perform at the level they’re currently at.
Let’s put it this way – if any of them are in the hunt for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender, more than a few people would be amazed. But stranger things have happened, and that’s why we’ll be watching keenly to see how the goalie wars shake out. It’s already been filled with surprises, and the key question from now onward is consistency.
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