One of the most telling criteria when analyzing goaltender performance is consistency, and currently Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is having an exceptional streak of 12 straight quality games.
A quality game is defined as an efficiency score of 0.900 or more, because if a goaltender stops at least 90% of the shots aimed at him, he gives his team a chance to win. Since November 25, Vasilesvsky has allowed the opponent three goals only twice. He has five one-goal and five two-goal games.
His record since November 25 is 9-3-0/0.942/2.29, and he has conceded two goals in each of his three losses. What more could you want from a goalkeeper? Clear Sight Analytics micro-stats show he’s since saved 11.16 more than normal goals, nearly one per game.
Also as of November 25, Linus Ullmark (8.63), Juuse Saros (7.69), Darcy Kuemper (7.45) and Craig Anderson (5.77) are those who have saved the most goals after Vasilevskiy.
Intense and passionate
We saw how intense and yet passionate Vasilevskiy was in the duel against the Canadians on Wednesday. Twenty-four hours later, he was back in the net against Vezina Trophy winner, fellow New York Rangers Igor Shesterkin.
It was a top-flight duel between the two best goalkeepers of the 2020s, and after 65 minutes of play and a total of 86 shots on goal, the dead was 1-1. Vasilesvskiy, who had saved 45 shots, was best in the penalty shootout with five saves from six tries.
The two Russians were simply invincible because, judging by the quality of the shots received, Vasilevskiy should have conceded at least four goals (4.36) and Shesterkin four (3.96).
stars of the week
With a perfect week of 3-0-0/.950/1.62, Vasilevsky moved up six places and is now 5th in our weekly ranking. He has just entered the race for the Vézina Trophy.
Antti Raanta (3-0-0/.951/1.62) and Jake Oettinger (3-0-0/.940/1.67) are our other stars of the week. Oettinger, who finished first at the start of the season, has just returned to the top four.
Mr “Rubber”
It’s not fair to say that the Anaheim Ducks players facilitated the return of goaltender John Gibson. After two weeks on the sidelines, the 29-year-old American was greeted with a 51-shot bombardment, also in a home game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Still, Gibson (26th in the top 30) led the team to a 3-2 shootout victory. It was almost back to normal two days later as the Ducks only allowed the Predators 43 shots. This time Gibson conceded six goals in a 6-1 loss.
Such is life in Anaheim, where Gibson has been among the standout guards on the Bettman Circuit year after year. Within a week, Gibson’s average shot per 60 minutes dropped from 38.3 to 38.8. He was on his 13th game with 35 or more shots for a respectable 5-5-3 record.
