Former Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Casey DeSmith is playing with the Dallas Stars this season and picked up his second win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
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In the Stars’ 5-2 victory, the former University of New Hampshire backstopper made 25 saves to improve his save percentage totals, up to .936% in three games.
DeSmith ranks 11th in the NHL regarding SV%, stopping 73 out of 78 shots in 177:32 of ice time.
Casey DeSmith’s first three games with the Stars:
73 saves on 78 shots. 1.69 GAA and a .936 save percentage.
— Josh Bogorad (@JoshBogorad) October 25, 2024
However, that’s not the silver lining for the seven-year veteran. With only seven goals against, his 1.69 GAA ranks sixth among goalies, just three-tenths of a percentage point behind the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck (1.66).
DeSmith joined the Penguins in 2017 as an undrafted free agent, compiling a 58-44-15 record in 134 games with a 2.81 GAA and .912 SV%.
He left in August 2023 when Pittsburgh traded him to Montreal to make room for Erik Karlsson. DeSmith never played with the Canadiens, instead moving to the West Coast to play with the Vancouver Canucks.
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During the regular season, he was 12-9-6 with a 2.89 GAA and .895 SV% before skating in three playoff games, where he went 1-1 with a 2.02 GAA and .911 SV%.
As a free agent, DeSmith relocated to Dallas on a three-year deal worth $1 annually.
No one in the Penguins’ current goalie platoon has a GAA under three, and only rookie Joel Blomqvist has an SV% above .900. Pittsburgh has a 3-4-1 record through eight games.
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