Earlier than the postseason began, I wrote up an inventory of the highest three goaltenders on this 12 months’s playoffs.
Within the weeks since then, my checklist has been confirmed very, very incorrect.
I ought to’ve recognized higher. Any playoff goaltender checklist that begins with Connor Hellebuyck in all probability isn’t the very best.
So, with Spherical 2 of the playoffs underway, let’s revisit that rating and replace it based mostly on what we’ve seen up to now this playoffs.
Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes
Throughout these Stanley Cup playoffs, Andersen has been enjoying just like the Martians have the dying beam pointed at Earth.
He’s posted an insane 1.32 GAA within the seven video games he’s performed this postseason. As well as, he’s received a .940 save proportion.
He posted his first shutout on Saturday night time throughout the Hurricanes’ 4-0 win over Washington.
Andersen has turn out to be one of many largest causes for Carolina’s success by the primary two rounds. They maintain a 2-1 lead over the Capitals within the semis after a gentleman’s sweep of New Jersey within the first spherical.
The Hurricanes have gotten a whole lot of respect from the betting world, the place they’ve turn out to be the odds-favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
Earlier, I didn’t actually see the place that was coming from, however they may experience Andersen’s scorching hand all the way in which to the Stanley Cup Last.
Anthony Stolarz, Maple Leafs
If Toronto will get it achieved this season, it’s going to be partially as a result of they’ve settled their goaltender spot with the play of Stolarz.
In previous postseasons, the Leafs have been all the time a ‘Yeah, however,’ workforce.
Like, yeah, Auston Matthews and The Large 4 will convert in the event that they’re given scoring alternatives, however the goaltending and protection is not going to maintain up. They received pushed round on that finish by a Boston Bruins workforce that was on the finish of the road final season, and a juggernaut efficiency from the Florida Panthers the 12 months earlier than.
However Stolarz has introduced stability to the online for Toronto, posting a 2.19 GAA and a .901 save proportion by his seven video games performed within the playoffs.
He isn’t an elite goaltender by any means, however he’s a chilled presence in internet for a Leafs workforce whose netminding hasn’t been a place of power lately.
Jake Oettinger, Stars
Oettinger is without doubt one of the solely elite common season goaltenders who has remained considerably himself within the postseason.
He’s had a 2.78 GAA and a .910 save proportion within the postseason, which aligns properly along with his common season numbers, a 2.59 GAA and a .909 save proportion.
His counterpart within the sequence, Hellebuyck, has had a much more unseemly dropoff going from a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save proportion throughout the common season to a 3.32 GAA and a .854 save proportion within the playoffs.
It’s laborious to rank Oettinger on this checklist after he let in three targets in a 4-0 loss to the Jets on Friday night time. However, once more, we’re judging this based mostly solely on confidence to return up in a giant recreation, and I believe that Oettinger has what it takes.
Dallas has discovered some new mojo after Mikko Rantanen caught hearth final spherical, if Oettinger can sustain his numbers, he’ll lead the Stars to the Stanley Cup Last.
