The NHL is nearly actually delighted that it’s seen an uptick in scoring the previous three seasons (although down a skosh this season from final). It in all probability ought to pull a muscle patting itself on the again for the crackdown on goalie gear resulting in decrease common save percentages throughout the Authentic 32 (.903 to date this season in comparison with .910 simply 4 years in the past). The quantity of velocity and talent from group to group (besides the one I watch) has by no means been greater.
Which could lead on to an entire bonanza of a playoff run within the spring, given what number of contenders have large questions of their web.
potential playoff groups, one may listing the next as not having solved their man-in-the-mask points: Carolina, Toronto, Tampa, Detroit, New Jersey, Colorado, and Edmonton. Your mileage might range on groups which can be getting nice work from dumpster diving, such because the Kings. The Rangers are getting good goaltending from their backup, Jonathan Fast, however not a lot from their starter, Igor Shesterkin, who simply acquired lit up by the Canes final night time. Adin Hill in Vegas leads the league in save proportion, and is coming off a Cup win, and but he’s by no means been a full-time starter for a season within the league (and gained’t be this yr both, because the Knights break up begins evenly between him and Logan Thompson). The Canucks are getting the primary top-tier work from Thatcher Demko that was at all times predicted for him, however that isn’t a assure to proceed by way of to April.
What that may imply going ahead will rely upon the assorted desperation ranges of groups and the place they suppose they’re on a growth stage for the goalies they’ve in-house. Take the Devils, who’re outdoors the playoff window for the time being and had been forecast as Cup contenders by plenty of observers, together with some actually good-looking and charming ones. Their goaltending has been woeful, Akira Schmid not solely didn’t take a step ahead however took a step again to Utica (going to Utica is at all times a step again, so I’m advised). Though each different metric has the Devils proper the place they need to be, their goalies mixed with Dougie Hamilton’s long-term harm, has them losing a season that’s purported to be proper of their window.
As at all times, the Leafs middle this as a result of they are saying so. Joseph Woll will probably be on the shelf for just a few extra weeks not less than, Ilya Samsonov being so unhealthy that nobody wished to say him on waivers as he was on his approach again to the Marlies (at all times say “Marlies” in the identical voice as Inexperienced Jelly’s “Three Little Pigs”), and so they’re relying on Martin Jones. The Leafs don’t get to waste a yr.
The Canes positively want a breakthrough this spring in any case their limp second-round exits. On the opposite aspect of the coin, the Rangers can wait round for Shesterkin to seek out his kind once more, particularly as they’re in first place anyway partially due to Fast beating Jack Sparrow and the Spanish to the Fountain of Youth. Colorado has current reminiscences of profitable a Cup with only a man in web solely two years in the past, and will take a look at their second-line issues greater than their goaltending issues.
There additionally aren’t plenty of options to be discovered on the commerce market. John Gibson has been superb in Anaheim behind a foul group, however he nonetheless has a terminal case of being John Gibson, which has by no means meant a lot come the playoffs. The identical sentence could be written about Petr Mrazek in Chicago, and but you get the sensation some group goes to strive on each come March. If the Flames ever wave the white flag, Jacob Markstrom hasn’t been practically ok for a group to tackle two extra years of his $6 million per yr contract, even when the Flames will eat a few of it. The Kraken are too near the playoffs to surrender, but when they fade and Joey Daccord can remind everybody he recorded the first-ever shutout in Winter Traditional historical past, possibly? Money in guys who’re simply “guys” when you possibly can.
All of it ought to result in a fairly entertaining spring, with quite a lot of 5-4s and 6-5s in our future. And a few fairly excessive confidence ranges in locations like Vegas, Boston, or Dallas which have established goalies.
I’ll simply be over right here praying somebody tumbles proper over their skis for Mrazek.
Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social
