With the NHL set to pause for the All-Star break, it’s a good time to assess where goalies stand across the league.
There have been some pleasant surprises, like the emergence of Connor Ingram in Arizona and the bounce-back seasons by Thatcher Demko and Jacob Markstrom. There have been some disappointments, like Ilya Samsonov and Jack Campbell stumbling out of the gates behind otherwise strong teams. And there have been some stars playing incredibly well that surprise absolutely no one, like Connor Hellebuyck leading Winnipeg to the top of the Central Division, and Boston’s duo of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman continuing to dominate.
Here are 10 goalie stats that help tell the story of the first half of the NHL season.
Hill leads the NHL with .936 save percentage
After shocking the world with an outstanding playoff run to help backstop the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup title, Adin Hill has picked up right where he left off. He’s missed significant time with a lower-body injury, starting only 17 games, but when healthy he’s been one of the best in the NHL.
Hill is a big goalie at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, but makes himself look even bigger with excellent positioning and structure. It’s a big reason he’s one of only three goalies with a perfect 1.000 save percentage on shots from long range (beyond 43 feet). Vegas’ strong zone defense forces a lot of shots to come from the outside, and Hill has been a master at using his body to give shooters nothing to shoot at, regardless of traffic in front of him.
Where Hill has made the biggest strides, though, is on saves from in close. He also leads the league in high-danger save percentage (.869), well above the league average of only .784. Hill isn’t the most athletic goalie, but he moves well for his size and already has a handful of impressive acrobatic stops.
The lack of volume for Hill is the only reason he’s not in the Vezina Trophy conversation. If he can stay on the ice for the second half, there’s still a chance he climbs back in. He’s lost only two games in regulation in 17 starts.
Hellebuyck went 21 consecutive games without allowing three goals in regulation
The streak finally came to an end, as Hellebuyck surrendered three each to Toronto and Boston in the last two games. Prior to that, he hadn’t given up more than two in regulation since Nov. 14, which is remarkable.
During the 21-game span, his goals-against average was an impressive 1.78. Hellebuyck has been the model of consistency in a position at which that’s nearly impossible. He leads the NHL with 22.1 goals saved above expected according to MoneyPuck, and is a big reason the Jets have the third-best record in the league.
He’s currently the heavy favorite to win the Vezina at -110, and with good reason. Shout out to backup Laurent Brossoit, who has also been great with a .926 save percentage.
Ingram is tied for the league lead with five shutouts
Last season, it was Karel Vejmelka who surprised everyone with 11.1 goals saved above expected playing behind a lowly Coyotes squad. This time, it’s another Arizona goalie, Connor Ingram, who has played brilliantly and has the Coyotes in the Western playoff chase.
Ingram has stopped 14.5 goals above expected, trailing only Hellebuyck, Demko and Hill. He’s done it behind the 21st-ranked defense in terms of expected goals allowed at even strength, making his metrics even more impressive. His .861 save percentage on high-danger shots (inside of 29 feet) ranks third in the league.
The 26-year-old had only seven career wins in the NHL and one shutout entering this season. He has 17 wins and five shutouts in 30 starts this year, and could be cementing himself as the future in net for a rebuilding Arizona team.
Bruins have two top-10 goalies
The defending Vezina winner, Ullmark, had a great first half to the season with a .913 save percentage and 10.6 GSAx, which ranks seventh in the league. None of that is surprising, but the fact…
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