X75 Productions

Tag: Progress Report

  • Top 31 NHL Goalies of 2018 – Statistically

    Top 31 NHL Goalies of 2018 – Statistically

    Here are my top 31 goalies in the league this season solely based on statistics. Also, this is not a ranking system, just the top 31 goalies one from each team so far this season. So please don’t feel offended if your team’s goalie is at the bottom or lower than you think. I’m not rating them just stating each team’s best goaltender statistically.

    1. Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators: 14-6-1  .926 SV% 1.97GAA NSH

    Numbers really speak for themselves here. Only goalie on the list allowing less than 2 goals a game and in the .920s for save percentage. Rinne has always been a fantastic regular season goalie, it’s the playoffs that seem to cause him trouble.

    1. Mikko Koskinen –Edmonton Oilers: 11-4-1 .928SV% 2.18GAA

    What a surprise Koskinen has been for the Oilers this season. The last time we saw Koskinen he couldn’t stop a beachball, went overseas and signed with the Oilers in the offseason as a relatively small signing and seems to have reinvented himself here in the NHL after a lengthy absence. He faces a lot of shots, but seems up to the task.

    1. Andrei Vasilevskiy – Tampa Bay Lightning: 11-3-2 .930SV% 2.35GAA

    Vasilevskiy’s numbers won’t be the most shocking as he was superb last season as well, but even after coming back from injury he came out and shut the door on the Toronto Maple Leafs high octane offence.

    1. David Rittich – Calgary Flames: 11-4-1 2.20 .925

    Rittich has had some ups and downs but for the most part has stolen the starting job from Mike Smith with some impressive numbers.  He has been a catalyst in helping Calgary off to a very strong first 30 games.

    1. Ben Bishop – Dallas Stars 11-8-1 .922SV% 2.35GAA

    Bishop quietly has put up some solid numbers. Dallas has had some under performers and tons of injuries so it really hasn’t shown on their record a lot but don’t count Bishop out.

    1. John Gibson – Anaheim Ducks: 15-9-4 .927SV% 2.52GAA

    Gibson has put up unreal numbers for a team that has struggled at times with the injury bug and even with their own consistency.

    1. Frederik Andersen – Toronto Maple Leafs: 18-9-1 .923SV% 2.53GAA

    Andersen has been probably the Leafs most consistent player all season. He’s been solid, Spectacular and a model of consistency when the Leafs needed it the most. He’s another goaltender that gets a lot of shots but has learned how to handle it.

    1. Jaroslav Halak – Boston Bruins: 10-5-2 2.27SV% .929GAA

    Halak is a bit of surprise here on the list considering there is no doubt who the number 1 goalie is in Boston. Tuukka Rask has struggled a bit this season with injuries and at time with his play. He is slowly coming back to form. But as of now Halak as been the better goalie.

    1. Jack Campbell – Los Angeles Kings: 5-7-0 2.33SV% .923GAA

    He is a real shocker, no Jonathan Quick and I have one reason for that injuries. Campbell was the back up and stepped and played really solid. His record doesn’t show it but those stats do.

    1. Casey DeSmith – Pittsburgh Penguins: 12-6-4 .923SV% 2.49GAA

    Another backup who got a chance because of injury to the starter and boy has he impressed. The Penguins are probably very happy that they have 2 goalies who can play.

    1. Thomas Greiss – New York Islanders: 12-6-1 .919SV% 2.52GAA

    Islanders have been a slight surprise this year. After losing John Tavares everyone thought the team was doomed to be in the basement of the league. But Greiss has helped them to a respectable record and his numbers are pretty good considering.

    1. Curtis McElhinney – Carolina Hurricanes: 7-3-1 .920SV% 2.36GAA

    Leafs put McElhinney on waivers and he was shocked but took it as another challenge in his career. Picked up by Carolina and has been very impressive. As a Leafs fan this really doesn’t shock me.

    1. Marc-Andre Fleury – Vegas Golden Knights: 19-10-2 .907SV% 2.58GAA

    Vegas struggled out of the gate and Fleury stayed consistent. Number are down from last season but I think everyone knew that Vegas was going to come back down to earth a little bit.

    1. Carter Hutton – Buffalo Sabres: 13-9-2 .917SV% 2.61GAA

    Hutton a career back up, who looked like he was poised to take a starter role finally after a superb year last season. Has taken the reigns in Buffalo and has yet to let go. He’ll have to keep up these numbers if he wants to keep the job as rookie Linus Ullmark knocks at the door.

    1. Devan Dubnyk –Minnesota Wild: 12-11-2 .911SV% 2.64GAA

    Minnesota has not been great this season, But Dubnyk has been the epitome of consistency. Posting solid numbers and being one of the reasons why they have a decent record.

    1. Jimmy Howard – Detroit Red Wings: 10 – 7 – 4 .922SV% 2.69GAA

    Howard has not had a very good team this year, as the Red Wings are in a rebuild. But Howard has shown he can be a good goalie when called upon.

    1. Semyon Valarmov – Colorado Avalanche: 11-8-3 .913SV% 2.79GAA

    This could be Varlamov’s last season in Colorado with his contract ending and Grubauer signing during this offseason and don’t get me wrong Varlamov has been good but he hasn’t run away with the starting job. Some would say that Grubauer has given him more than a push and he may have even taken the starting role.

    1. Martin Jones – San Jose: 14-7-3 .901SV% 2.81GAA

    Martin Jones has taken a step back this season. His numbers have dropped and it shows in how his team is playing. Barely hitting over the 900 save percentage and pushing almost 3 goals a game.

    1. Brayden Holtby – Washington Capitals: 13-8-2 .911SV% 2.86GAA

    Holtby has a good record and decent stats but the last few season has struggled in the season. But in the playoffs be careful he’s a different beast.

    1. Sergei Bobrovsky –Columbus Blue Jackets: 13-10-1 .905SV% 2.86GAA

    Bobrovsky has really tailed off this season, really struggling to find his groove but Joonas Korpisalo hasn’t really done much to steal the job away.

    1. Henrik Lundqvist –NY Rangers: 10-9-5 .914SV% 2.87GAA

    Lundqvist is finally showing his age, putting up much below his normal numbers. Expect ”The King” to stay around this numbers till he retires.

    1. Darcy Kuemper – Arizona Coyotes: 4-8-2 .909SV% 2.87GAA

    Antti Raanta should be here but injuries have foiled what looked to be a great season for him. Kuemper has been their next best option in net. Hill came up from the minors and has played fantastic but on a very small sample size , I wasn’t prepared to make him the best they have right now.

    1. Conor Hellebyuck – Winnipeg Jets: 15-9-1 .908SV% 2.90GAA

    Hellebyuck had an amazing season last year but this year has started off much almost average 3 goals a game and getting close to a 900 save percentage. After signing a big deal the hope is he’ll continue to improve.

    1. Carey Price -Montreal Canadiens: 13-10-4 .902SV% 2.91GAA

    Price is a having a comeback year of sorts but still not back to his normal self. Averaging almost 3 goals a year and a close to 900 save percentage. Now this could be due to the Canadiens not being great, but being a middle of the pack team.

    1. Roberto Luongo – Florida Panthers: 7-5-1 .906SV% 2.05GAA

    Started off the season with a few injuries but age has grown well on Luongo who is still posting good numbers.

    1. Keith Kincaid – New Jersey Devils: 11-9-6 .902SV% 3.00GAA

    Kincaid is in a tough spot in New Jersey, as they are not the greatest team in the league. Despite the numbers and playing on a subpar team Kincaid has looked really good on most nights.

    1. Jacob Markstrom – Vancouver Canucks: 13-9-3 .904SV% 3.01GAA

    Who else thinks that if the Canucks had some consistent goaltending they would be a team to be scared of? The Canucks are hoping Demko is he answer to the problems.

    1. Jake Allen – St. Louis Blues: 11-9-4 .899SV% 3.14GAA

    What a terrible year Jake Allen is having. He was trusted with becoming the number one in ST.Louis and has been a complete flop.

    1. Craig Anderson – Ottawa Senators: 14-12-3 .907SV% 3.49GAA

    Anderson has had his struggles this season but I believe it’s mainly becaue of a very very young defence. With Ottawa very clearly in rebuild mode. Ottawa is letting their young guys play and that could mean Anderson’s year could get worse.

    1. Corey Crawford – Chicago Blackhawks: 6-14-2 .902SV% 3.28GAA

    Injury plagued season for Crawford yet he still is the best goalie in this organization.

    1. Brian Elliot – Philadelphia Flyers: 6-7-0 .911SV% 2.59GAA

    Not really much to say about Elliot, since leaving St.Louis he has never reclaimed the form he once had.

     

    Thoughts? Disagreements? Let me know would love to talk!

  • Mitch Marner Proving all the Critics Wrong

    Mitch Marner Proving all the Critics Wrong

    When the Leafs Drafted Mitch Marner from the London Knights of the OHL, General Managers from around the league second-guessed the decision and wondered if the Leafs Management had messed up on another draft pick.

    Marner’s tenure in London was marked by nothing but success. In Marner’s 3 years with the London Knights organization, he amassed 96 goals 205 assists for 301 points in 184 games. That puts Marner at about 1.6 points per game. Everyone thought great another junior player will not be able to translate their offensive abilities into the NHL.

    Most scouts said he’s fast but too small and has no muscle build to help with his board work. Scouts also implied that his offensive ability would not translate into the style that the NHL plays. But the Leafs saw something in him that they felt was worth what was considered the minimal risk. The payoff has been everything and more than the Leafs could have asked for.

    In his first 2 seasons with Toronto, Marner has put up impressive numbers. In his first 159 games, Marner put up 41 goals 89 assists for 130 points. Earning him 0.82 points per game average and improving on his rookie number totals in year 2 showed that Marner is growing as a player. This season is no different for Marner. In 34 games this season Marner has put up sensational numbers, 9 goals and 35 assists for 44 points. If Marner was to keep the same pace and played all 82 games he would put up 106 points this season.

    While Marner has become one of the elite playmakers in the league, guys like Dylan Strome are still trying to find his groove and become a full-time NHL player. Expect Marner to become more of a two-way player, he already begun that process but expect more improvement in that aspect of his game.

    But as Leaf fans we get to enjoy Marner’s magic for what we hope is a long time coming.

  • Progress Report – Tom Wilson 10 Games In

    Progress Report – Tom Wilson 10 Games In

    On September 30th, 2018 Tom Wilson did an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist, which resulted to Wilson being suspended for 20 games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on October 3rd. After NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the suspension, neutral arbitrator Shyam Das would reduce Wilson’s suspension to 14 games after having already missed 16 games. Wilson would return to the lineup immediately on November 13th for the Washington Capitals against the Minnesota Wild.

     

     

    Upon his return Wilson made an impact right away scoring a goal and subsequently getting a goalie interference  call at the same time.

     

    After that Wilson would fight Marcus Foligno to help guide the Capitals to a 5-2 victory over the Wild. Then the next night in Winnipeg Wilson would be held off of the score sheet as the Capitals would fall to the Jets 3-1. However, in both games Wilson averaged 16:30 minutes in ice time, and registered two shots combined with 7 penalty minutes and was Even in +/-.

     

    Then in his next eight games Tom Wilson showed why the Capitals drafted him 16th overall in 2012, as he would explode on the first line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, and at times with Lars Eller. In these next eight games Wilson would register 7 goals, 6 assists for 13 points which also include Wilson being on a 6 game goal streak and an 8 game point streak, which are both active currently. Also Wilson would register 4 multi-point games and one 2 goal game. On special teams Wilson would also register 2 goals and 3 points on the powerplay, and 1 shorthanded goal. Also in every game, with the exception of the November 30th game against New Jersey which we will talk about in a moment, Wilson would average over 20 minutes of playing time and 2 plus shots a game.

     

    In the span of these eight games the Capitals would go 7-1-0 with all seven wins happening consecutively. In all 10 games that Wilson has played in the Capitals have an 8-2-0 record, and also saw their penalty kill improve by 10.2% from October (going into their game on December 2nd versus Anaheim). Plus the Capitals as a whole have played a much better as a team.

     

    However, it would be a miss if we didn’t have a little controversy involving Tom Wilson as on November 30th against the New Jersey Devils, Wilson would unfortunately get attention for all of the wrong reasons. After scoring a shorthanded goal 8 seconds into the 2nd period, Wilson would be tracking his man into the Capitals zone and would lay a hit on Devils forward Brett Seney.

    The play would result in Wilson getting a Match penalty for an Illegal hit to the Head, however, as it would be shown in the still we were able to grab you can see that Wilson did not make contact with Seney’s head at all.

    Also as seen on the play Wilson does make an effort to try to avoid contact.

    https://twitter.com/EdFrankovic/status/1068687202224349184

    Of course the big reason that this is controversial is because it is Tom Wilson. Plus he was in his 9th game back from suspension and we all know that Wilson is under a microscope by the League. Luckily for Wilson the Department of Player Safety decided that there would be no supplementary discipline as it was deemed that Wilson did not make contact with the head.

     

    Outside of this one little (big) blip for Tom Wilson, he has been proving why the Capitals drafted him in the first round, and with his role on the team, he has helped turn the ship around after a slow start to the season. If Wilson keeps playing the way he has been and stays away from the bad hits, and keeps playing smart, Wilson will be setting all new career highs this season.

     

    Also please read Isabelle Khurshudyan’s article on Tom Wilson for The Washington Post. It is a definite must read.

     

    Feature Photo Credit – Washington Capitals Twitter