McKenna: Ranking the goalie tandems of all 32 NHL teams (update)
Ranking the NHL’s goalie tandems is tricky. It’s about the overall strength of the tandem, sizing up that team’s opportunity to win every night, no matter who is in the crease those 20 or 30 other games per season when the starter rests.
There have been surprises and goalies out of action. For the sake of this exercise, we decided to use the two primary goaltenders for each team so far this season. There is the odd exception – notably Dallas.
We’ve taken into account athlete history, expected playing time, strength of the team in front of them, travel considerations and more. Of course, it’s all debatable and that’s the fun of it.
This will be a living, breathing list. Your favorite team’s tandem may rise or fall as the season progresses.
Away we go, ranking the NHL’s netminding tandems from top to bottom:
1. (Previous Ranking: 6) Carolina Hurricanes: Frederik Andersen & Antti Raanta
Andersen has consistently been outstanding all season, but it’s the recent play of Raanta that’s caught my eye. He’s 4-2-1 with a .921 save percentage since the NHL All-Star break. Andersen has won 30 of his 39 starts and his 29.1 goals saved above expected ranks second in the NHL.
2. (Previous Ranking: 1) Calgary Flames: Jacob Markstrom & Dan Vladar
In his last 15 starts, Markstrom is 12-1-1. His nine shutouts lead all NHL netminders. And the big Swede has taken on a major leadership role within the Flames dressing room. Vladar continues to provide solid support. He’s won three of his last five games.
3. (Previous Ranking: 7) New York Rangers: Igor Shesterkin & Alexandar Georgiev
The past two games have made Shesterkin look human, but I think he’s been the best goaltender in the NHL this season. His .938 save percentage is Hasek-like. Shesterkin has carried the mail in New York because of his exemplary play, but also out of necessity. Georgiev has struggled mightily and hasn’t won a game since Jan. 8.
4. (Previous Ranking: 17) Boston Bruins: Jeremy Swayman & Linus Ullmark
Ever since Tuukka Rask announced his retirement and Swayman was recalled from the AHL, the rookie netminder has been absolutely lights out for the Bruins. Swayman has posted a .939 save percentage over his last 11 starts. He’s 9-1-1 during that span. Ullmark has been hot and cold lately, but he’s still 17-9-2 on the season.
5. (Previous Ranking: 25) Colorado Avalanche: Darcy Kuemper, Pavel Francouz
The sleeping giant has finally woken up. Since our last update, Kuemper went on an Avalanche-record 18-game point streak (16-0-2) and raised his save percentage to .922 on the season. He’s now among NHL leaders in goals saved above expected. Francouz’s return from injury has been a big boost for Colorado. He’s 10-3-1 on the season to go with a .920 save percentage. Kuemper has always performed at his best with a quality goalie partner and Francouz has been a good match.
6. (Previous Ranking: 15) Nashville Predators: Juuse Saros & David Rittich
The Preds have been on a bit of a slide lately but Saros has been the definition of a workhorse. He’s played 49 games, second most in the NHL. For a goaltender as busy as Saros to post a .923 save percentage is really impressive. I think Saros is so consistent because his mechanics are nearly flawless. I’d love to tell you more about David Rittich but he hardly plays.
7. (Previous Ranking: 12) Dallas Stars: Jake Oettinger & Braden Holtby
It’s Oettinger time in Dallas. The Stars were selective in his appearances early this season. They didn’t want to rush him. I think it’s paid off. He was already mentally strong, but now his reads are improving at the NHL level. He has a .922 save percentage since the All-Star Break in 13 appearances. Holtby is 2-1-1 with a .915 save percentage during that same time frame.
8. (Previous Ranking: 2) Tampa Bay Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy & Brian Elliott
This might be surprising to some, but Vasilevskiy has been rather pedestrian recently. In his last 11 starts, he’s gone 7-4 with an .907 save percentage. Despite sagging numbers, I think Vasilevsky is still the best money goaltender in the NHL. Elliott hasn’t played often but he’s done a nice job. The veteran netminder has gotten points in eight of his 11 starts.
9. (Previous Ranking: 11) Pittsburgh Penguins: Tristan Jarry & Casey DeSmith
Jarry carried the Penguins early in the season when injuries piled up. And while he’s cooled off slightly, Jarry continues to play the best hockey of his career. He’s made 47 starts for Pittsburgh and won 29 times. It was a tough beginning to the season for DeSmith, but he’s posted a .932 save percentage and 3-0-1 record in his past four appearances.
10. (Previous Ranking: 14) New York Islanders: Ilya Sorokin & Semyon Varlamov
If the Islanders were in the Stanley Cup playoff picture, Sorokin would be receiving way more attention. He’s posted a 20-12-7 record for a team that sits 24th in the NHL league standings. Sorokin’s .925 save percentage speaks to his consistency over the course of the season. Learning English was a big step for the Russian netminder that helped his communication with coaches and teammates. Varlamov hasn’t had a bad season statistically, but it’s been a struggle to earn wins: his .912 save percentage stands in contrast to a 4-12-1 record.
11. (Previous Ranking: 10) St. Louis Blues: Ville Husso & Jordan Binnington
Notice whose name is listed first? That’s because Husso has earned the Blues net since our last update. Binnington went more than a month without a win, but a .910 save percentage in his last six starts is encouraging. As for Husso, he’s currently third in the NHL in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes. With a 15-4-3 record, Husso will have every chance to earn the Blues’ starting job in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
12. (Previous Ranking: 4) Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky & Spencer Knight
It’s hard to criticize a goaltender that’s 30-6-3 on the season, but I can’t help but wonder if the run-and-gun style of the Panthers is finally catching up with Bobrovsky. He has a .901 save percentage over his last 10 games despite winning eight of them. Knight spent a month in the AHL and looks better for it: he’s posted a .931 save percentage since returning to the NHL in early March.
13. (Previous Ranking: 13) Vancouver Canucks: Thatcher Demko & Jaroslav Halak
Vancouver has been riding Demko – and for good reason. The Californian has racked up a 9-3-1 record since his appearance at the NHL All-Star Game. Demko has seen action in 48 games and his performance has put the Canucks back into the postseason conversation. On the flip side, it’s been a year to forget for Halak. His .883 save percentage isn’t pretty. And Halak has allowed 11 goals against in his last 42 minutes played. He’s gotten the hook in two straight games.
14. (Previous Ranking 3) Winnipeg Jets: Connor Hellebuyck & Eric Comrie
Hellebuyck has been the busiest goaltender in the NHL. He’s started 50 games and owns a .908 save percentage. But he’s struggled lately, allowing 29 goals in his last seven games. I can’t help but wonder if the workload has become too heavy. Comrie has gone 7-2-1 this year with a .920 save percentage. He’s been a pleasant surprise. I think the Jets should be utilizing Comrie more often.
15. (Previous Ranking: 16) Washington Capitals: Vitek Vanecek & Ilya Samsonov
Vanecek had earned the crease in Washington before an injury sidelined him for almost a month. Since returning on Feb. 28, the Czech goaltender has posted a .925 save percentage. Vanecek is currently on a four-game winning streak. Samsonov has had flashes of brilliance but hasn’t been consistent. He’s 4-4-1 since the NHL All-Star break to go with an .899 save percentage.
16. (Previous Ranking: 29) Arizona Coyotes: Scott Wedgewood & Karel Vejmelka
I don’t think this tandem has gotten enough attention. Wedgewood is a big reason why the Coyotes have been winning. In his last seven starts, he’s won five times and posted a .927 save percentage. Vejmelka’s record may be 9-22-0, but his .905 save percentage is respectable considering he had zero experience playing in North America prior to the 2021-22 season.
17 (Previous Ranking: 19) Vegas Golden Knights: Robin Lehner & Laurent Brossoit
Injuries continue to plague Lehner. He’s 21-15-1 this season but has only managed 37 starts due to a variety of ailments. Lehner’s .909 save percentage is 29th in the NHL among goalies who have played 10 or more games. Brossoit has already played a career-high 23 games. But wins have been elusive in Lehner’s absence. Brossoit is 2-5-1 since the NHL All-Star break.
18. (Previous Ranking: 18) Philadelphia Flyers: Carter Hart & Martin Jones
The Flyers’ goaltending corps has done a nice job of powering through the adversity of a bad team. I like Hart’s technical base but there’s still room for growth in his puck tracking and patience. Putting up a .911 save percentage isn’t easy on a team that’s only won 18 games. Jones has been serviceable, but this season has confirmed his status as an NHL backup. His 3.42 goals against average is well off the 2.97 mark Hart has posted.
19. (Previous Ranking: 12) Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick & Cal Petersen
The Kings are winning games but I have concerns with their goaltending. Quick’s .878 save percentage since the holiday break is second-worst in the NHL. Yet he’s gone 5-1-1 in his last seven starts. Petersen is similar. He’s won five of his last seven games. But Petersen’s .900 save percentage and negative goals saved above expected per 60 minutes aren’t reassuring.
20. (Previous Ranking: 22) San Jose Sharks: James Reimer & Adin Hill
The Sharks tandem is hard to rate. Hill has missed significant time due to injury. And Reimer (who’s now hurt), has been forced to grind behind a lackluster San Jose defense. Reimer has outplayed Hill, which I don’t think was what the Sharks were hoping for. They traded for Hill this past offseason with hopes that he’d be their goalie of the future. Reimer is 15-12-5. Hill is 10-11-1.
21. (Previous Ranking: 31) Ottawa Senators: Anton Forsberg & Matt Murray
For a while it looked like Murray might be regaining form as a top NHL goaltender. He was excellent in January. And then Murray lost six straight games before suffering yet another injury. His 5-12-2 record pales in comparison to that of his goalie partner Forsberg, who’s gone 13-11-2. The Senators are 28th in the NHL, yet Forsberg owns a winning record and .916 save percentage.
22. (Previous Ranking: 9) Minnesota Wild: Cam Talbot & Kaapo Kahkonen
Talbot has been hot and cold. Kahkonen was a rock in net – until the wheels fell off in late February. The tandem has allowed 59 goals combined over the Wild’s last 18 games. Kahkonen hasn’t won since Feb. 20. And Talbot’s -6.4 goals saved above expected isn’t a good sign. But he has won two straight games.
23. (Previous Ranking: 20) Columbus Blue Jackets: Elvis Merzlikins & Joonas Korpisalo
The Blue Jackets give up 35.6 shots per game, the most in the NHL. It hasn’t been an easy environment for their goalies. But Merzlikins continues to find ways to win while Korpisalo looks lost. It’s not about numbers in Columbus. It’s about the eye test. Where Merzlikins is usually able to stay in control, Korpisalo is all over the place. Despite an .885 save percentage since the NHL All-Star break, Merzlikins has a 7-4-2 record.
24. (Previous Ranking: 27) Edmonton Oilers: Mikko Koskinen & Mike Smith
It’s hard to argue with Koskinen’s .921 save percentage and 6-1-1 record since the NHL All-Star break. But he’s still allowing just under three goals per game on average. And Koskinen has surrendered some terribly weak goals against. Smith has battled injuries all season and has yet to find a groove. His .891 save percentage is well off his career mark of .912 and Smith has lost four straight games.
25. (Previous Ranking: 28) Montreal Canadiens: Samuel Montembeault & Andrew Hammond
It’s nearly impossible to judge Montreal’s goaltending before Martin St. Louis took over as head coach. Since the change, Montembeault is 5-4-1 with a .908 save percentage. I think he’s done an admirable job this year, especially considering the Habs picked him up off waivers at the start of the season. ‘The Hamburglar’ is 3-0-0 since arriving in Montreal on Feb. 12. He had previously been playing for the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa.
26. (Previous Ranking: 23) Chicago Blackhawks: Marc-Andre Fleury & Kevin Lankinen
Fleury has been equal parts durable and valuable to the Blackhawks. The team only has 22 wins on the season, and ‘Flower’ owns 19 of them, four of which were shutouts. Fleury’s .908 save percentage is only eye-catching when compared to his goalie partner Lankinen’s. The Finnish sophomore has an .885 save percentage and is 3-7-4 this season.
27. (Previous Ranking: 21) Anaheim Ducks: John Gibson & Anthony Stolarz
Let’s get this out of the way: with a record of 9-6-2 and a .919 save percentage, Stolarz has done a great job in a limited role. But things are spiralling for his partner. Gibson is 2-8-0 in his last 10 starts. His save percentage is .840 during that span and he’s been pulled three times. I think Gibson is long overdue for a technical overhaul. He lacks precision and ends up reaching far too often.
28. (Previous Ranking: 30) Buffalo Sabres: Craig Anderson & Dustin Tokarski
Craig Anderson is 40 years old. He has a winning record and a .907 save percentage on a team that’s 27th in the standings. And Anderson just won his 300th NHL game. The only knock is he’s missed significant time with injury. Tokarski has also done an admirable job. He has a .902 save percentage in 19 starts.
29. (Previous Ranking: 5) Toronto Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell & Petr Mrazek
Since the NHL’s holiday break in late December, Campbell and Mrazek have a combined save percentage of .883. They’ve allowed 100 goals in 29 games. Yet miraculously, the Leafs have gone 17-9-2. Campbell and Mrazek have struggled for different reasons. Campbell appears to have lost all confidence, while Mrazek has glaring technical deficiencies. No tandem has moved more in my rankings.
30. (Previous Ranking: 24) Detroit Red Wings: Alex Nedeljkovic & Thomas Greiss
It’s been a really tough go of late for Nedeljkovic. His save percentage is just .868 over the course of his last 10 games played, although he did post a 3-5-1 record. Greiss played several strong games in February but wasn’t able to keep it going. His .891 save percentage this season is well off his career mark of .913.
31. (Previous Ranking: 26) New Jersey Devils: Jon Gillies & Nico Daws
Daws should probably be in the AHL developing, but somehow he’s gone 5-4-0 for the Devils since the NHL All-Star break. His .916 save percentage on the season is really impressive for a rookie with no experience playing in North America. Jon Gillies was brought in to stabilize the crease, but he’s struggled. Gillies has an .862 save percentage in six games.
32. (Previous Ranking: 32) Seattle Kraken: Philipp Grubauer & Chris Driedger
I thought at some point Grubauer and Driedger’s numbers would improve. It seemed inevitable. But that hasn’t happened. Grubauer is still playing so far out of his net that he can’t keep up with the play. And Driedger hasn’t been able to find any rhythm. The Kraken goalies have combined to post an .887 save percentage.