Breaking down every Round 2 goalie matchup in Stanley Cup playoffs
The second round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs is set, with eight teams left standing. And as is custom in the postseason, there are questions in goal.
In a year that saw a record number of goaltenders suit up for NHL action, perhaps it’s unsurprising that only four teams – the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning – remain that have used just one goaltender in the postseason.
That hasn’t been the case for the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Rangers, all teams that dipped into the goaltending reserves during the first round.
So which teams are stable? Which have concerns? Which need better goaltending than they received in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs? Read on for my thoughts heading into the second round.
Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues
Darcy Kuemper (COL): 3 GP, 2-0, 1.63 GAA, .934 SV%
Pavel Francouz (COL): 2 GP, 2-0, 2.97 GAA, .902 SV%
Jordan Binnington (STL): 3 GP, 3-0, 1.67 GAA, .943 SV%
Ville Husso (STL): 3 GP, 1-2, 3.02 GAA, .906 SV%
Of the remaining teams, the St. Louis Blues have the most intrigue surrounding their goaltenders as they prepare to face the Colorado Avalanche. In the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Minnesota Wild, Ville Husso played the first three games. He won the opening match but lost the next two, which opened the door for Jordan Binnington to take over the crease in Game 4. Binnington responded by winning three games in a row to eliminate the Minnesota Wild.
The Colorado Avalanche also used both of their goaltenders in the first round but under different circumstances. Darcy Kuemper won the first two games of the series against the Nashville Predators but was unable to finish the third due a scary incident involving the stick blade of Predators forward Ryan Johansen. Kuemper suffered an eye injury and was unable to play the rest of the series. Pavel Francouz performed admirably in his two appearances, helping the Avalanche sweep the Predators in four games.
I wonder how Kuemper will handle the dynamic rush game and potent power play of the Blues. Patience is the key against St. Louis: the longer Kuemper stays on his skates, the better. The same goes for Binnington. The Avalanche are similar to the Blues: they can score in a multitude of ways. And Binnington will face a wicked Colorado power play. Both teams can zip the puck around with pace and accuracy. Kuemper and Binnington will need to be precise in their movements in order to find success in this series.
Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers
Jacob Markstrom (CGY): 7 GP, 4-3, 1.53 GAA, .943 SV%
Mike Smith (EDM): 7 GP, 4-3, 2.29 GAA, .938 SV%
The first-round series between the Flames and Dallas Stars was a goaltending dream. Even in defeat, Stars netminder Jake Oettinger stole the show with a masterful seven-game effort. But Jacob Markstrom was just as impressive. It’s not easy to keep a level head when the goaltender at the other end of the ice is putting on a historic performance. Markstrom stayed calm and went about his business – something I’m not sure Markstrom could have done earlier in his career. He’s in his prime.
If any team in the Stanley Cup playoffs is praying to the hockey gods that their goalie remains healthy, it’s the Edmonton Oilers. After a puckhandling gaffe in Game 1 of the Oilers’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, Smith bounced back with a win in Game 2 and posted solid numbers through the first six games. But it was the veteran netminder’s 29-save shutout in Game 7 that really put a stamp on the series.
Smith’s game is built for the playoffs: his conservative depth gives him a chance to get square before almost every shot. And he’s playing with confidence. Despite the error in Game 1, Smith’s puckhandling is a huge asset for the Oilers. His prowess with the puck lets Edmonton break out of their zone with ease.
As good as Markstrom was against the Stars, there is cause for concern against the Oilers. During the regular season, Markstrom allowed 14 goals in four games against Edmonton – by far the most of any team he faced. He went 2-2 but allowed seven power-play goals against. The Flames need Markstrom to be their best penalty killer against the Oilers.
Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA): 6 GP, 4-2, 2.79 GAA, .906 SV%
Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB): 7 GP, 4-3, 3.04 GAA, .897 SV%
What about Bob? It seems like the Panthers goaltender has almost been forgotten. During the 2021-22 campaign, Bobrovsky collected 39 wins in 53 starts, a stat line that helped Florida win the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL team with the best regular-season record. But there were plenty of nights where Bobrovsky wasn’t tested, or his team was simply able to outscore opponents.
In the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Washington Capitals, Bobrovsky was good enough. But he’ll need to be at his very best against the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. I think the key for Bobrovsky is simplicity. He needs to minimize movements and stay between his posts, especially against an elite puck-moving team like the Lightning.
It took a while for the real Andrei Vasileskiy to stand up in the first round against the Maple Leafs, but once he did, the ‘Big Cat’ slammed the door shut. In his first six outings against Toronto, Vasilevskiy allowed three goals or more in every game. I didn’t think he was very sharp. But there’s a reason why the Russian netminder has a reputation for being the best money goaltender in the world. In Game 7, Vasilevskiy was phenomenal, stopping 30 of 31 shots put on goal by the Maple Leafs.
I don’t think Vasilevskiy will have the same chance to ease into the series against the Panthers. Toronto can score, but Florida was on a different planet all season. Vasilevskiy went 2-1 against Florida this year with a .908 save percentage – a strong mark against the NHL’s most dangerous offensive team. The Lightning will need the best version of Vasilevskiy right out of the gate in Game 1.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers
Antti Raanta (CAR): 6 GP, 3-2, 2.37 GAA, .927 SV%
Igor Shesterkin (NYR): 7 GP, 4-2, 3.66 GAA, .911 SV%
Pyotr Kochetkov (CAR): 2 GP, 1-1, 3.31 GAA, .900 SV%
Alexandar Georgiev (NYR): 2 GP, 0-1, 2.03 GAA, .935 SV%
A shoo-in for this year’s Vezina trophy as the top goaltender in the NHL, and a Hart Trophy finalist for the league’s most valuable player, Shesterkin struggled at times in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was pulled twice. But Shesterkin bounced back, winning three straight games and propelling the upstart Rangers to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Adversity rarely hit the Russian phenom during the regular season. Shesterkin routinely covered up the defensive lapses of his Rangers teammates. But the postseason is different, especially against an experienced lineup like that of the Penguins. Shesterkin looked human. And at times, beatable.
But what I found so impressive about the Rangers netminder was how he was able to stay focused despite his team trailing in the final three games. Shesterkin was incredibly resilient, stopping all 11 Pittsburgh shots in the third period of Game 7 and another two in overtime. That’s as high-pressure as it gets. And he was successful.
My only concern heading into this series against the Hurricanes: Shesterkin went 0-2 against Carolina this season with a .883 save percentage. The Rangers will need a much better performance.
As for the Hurricanes, a lot remains to be decided. Will Freddie Andersen be ready in time for the series? If not, can Antti Raanta stay healthy? Will Pyotr Kochetkov get another chance to impress in goal for Carolina?
I’m asking all those questions but at the same time thinking that Carolina is sturdy in net. Because, realistically, the Hurricanes play such a team game that the goaltending position is just a part of the equation. All three of the aforementioned goaltenders have performed at or above expectation this season.
Let’s say it’s Antti Raanta starting Game 1. I thought he was excellent in the six games he played against the Boston Bruins, especially considering he had to battle through injury. Raanta is so positionally sound and quiet in his movements, which to me equals consistency. He may not have the best hands in the world, but Raanta thinks the game well. When the Hurricanes netminder is at his best, he’s in position early and the play comes to him.
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