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….