All articles tagged with #goaltending
The New Jersey Devils announced a coaching staff shakeup: goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been relieved of his duties, while Sergei Brylin will move into a new role within the organization, and the team has begun searching for replacements.
Montreal beat Buffalo 6-3 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead and keep the possibility of a home-clinching game alive. Rookie Jakub Dobeš overcame a rough start to stop 32 of 35, steadying the Habs as they struck for three goals in the second period. The Suzuki–Caufield–Slafkovský line finally supplied five-on-five offense, with Caufield scoring and Slafkovský collecting three assists, while Demidov and Evans added goals. Buffalo shuffled between Luukkonen and Lyon, with Lyon likely to start Game 6; Buffalo’s top line has been quiet, giving Montreal’s hot line the edge and forcing the Sabres to respond to avoid elimination.
Edmonton fired Kris Knoblauch after a disappointing 2025-26 season that ended in a six-game first-round playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks; despite Connor McDavid winning the Art Ross, goaltending issues and weak depth, including a midseason swap that sent Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry, left the Oilers at 93 points (second in a weak Pacific) and underscored the need for a coaching change to maximize McDavid’s window as Knoblauch’s extension runs through 2028-29.
Buffalo shakes up its lineup, with Luukkonen in net and reinforcements on defense and forward, then leans on a tightened penalty kill and a revived power play to win 3-2 in Montreal, tying the series 2-2 after a controversial overturned goal.
Three days between Games 2 and 3 could give the Minnesota Wild a needed reset, potentially allowing Eriksson Ek and/or Brodin to return, and a chance to re-evaluate goaltending, with Brian Boucher believing Wallstedt will start Game 3 to help avoid a 3-0 series deficit in the West Second Round against the Colorado Avalanche.
In Game 2 of the West semifinals, Minnesota coach Chris Finch lingers on the goaltending calls surrounding Victor Wembanyama’s record 12 blocks, while De’Aaron Fox vows to be the steadier hand for the Spurs and Wembanyama’s minutes could rise toward 40 as San Antonio tries to even the series; watch for a single goaltending review, Fox’s efficiency, and Wembanyama’s minutes as the Spurs seek to avoid falling behind 2-0.
Victor Wembanyama set a playoff record with 12 blocks in Game 1, but a postgame breakdown argues several were goaltends or fouls that went uncalled, prompting Wolves coach Chris Finch to question the officiating. The breakdown tallies 5 clean blocks, 3 probably-clean blocks, 2 goaltends, and 2 fouls, suggesting up to four points erased by goaltending and potentially four more from missed fouls.
The Eastern Conference semifinals pit the Philadelphia Flyers against the Carolina Hurricanes with Carolina favored after sweeping Ottawa and posting top possession figures, while Philadelphia arrives from a six-game series with Pittsburgh. Key factors include goaltending (Dan Vladar for Philly vs. Frederik Andersen for Carolina), Carolina's high-volume shot approach and transition game, and Philly's defensive structure and special-teams adjustments. Four regular-season meetings went beyond regulation, underscoring a tightly contested series that will test depth across both rosters.
Edmonton used targeted line changes—pushing Podkolzin with Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins while keeping McDavid with Draisaitl—to spark offense in Game 5 and stay alive as they chase a Game 7. McDavid, though banged up, is expected to play, and the Oilers must sustain two strong scoring lines and solid five-on-five play. Anaheim, holding a 3-2 series lead, must score first, keep up their pace, and lean on Lukáš Dostál as they try to close out at home in Game 6, with goaltending and execution likely deciding the outcome.
Dan Vladar is a game-time decision for the Flyers in Game 4 against the Penguins after a right-arm injury sustained in Game 3; he did not practice and will be evaluated before the 8 p.m. ET puck drop, with Samuel Ersson as a likely emergency option if Vladar can’t go. Vladar has been strong this series (.946 save percentage) as Philadelphia leads 3-0, and if Ersson starts, it would mark his playoff debut for the Flyers. Coach Rick Tocchet stressed confidence in the system regardless of the goalie choice.
Dan Vladar sat out Thursday as a maintenance day but said he feels better after a third-period injury scare. He has started all three Flyers playoff wins over Pittsburgh, posting a 1.33 GAA and .946 save percentage. With two days before Game 4, Philadelphia is resting him and could turn to Samuel Ersson if needed as they chase a potential series sweep.
Carolina locked down Ottawa in a tight Game 1, with Frederik Andersen turning aside 22 shots for a 2-0 shutout, while Logan Stankoven’s second-period goal and Taylor Hall’s third-period insurance tally provided the scoring; Linus Ullmark kept Ottawa close with 27 saves, yet the Hurricanes’ physical play and a dramatic early faceoff tilt set the tone, and Artem Zub left the game with an injury, testing the Senators’ depth.
Colorado’s top goalie led the NHL in save percentage, while Los Angeles’ likely starter excelled in the final month of the regular season, setting up a high-stakes goaltending matchup for Round 1.
Facing the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche in a tight best-of-seven, the Kings must get elite goaltending (Forsberg’s hot April form if he starts), disrupt MacKinnon with Byfield’s line, generate timely scoring from top and bottom lines, capitalize on special-teams chances, and win the dirty, physical battles to stay in the series; eight or nine of these keys need to click for Los Angeles to have a real shot.
Carolina Hurricanes prep for Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators by weighing multiple goaltending options (Andersen, Bussi, and possibly Kochetkov) and welcoming Logan Stankoven back to practice, underscoring Brind’Amour’s belief that the team can win in any style with their deep, playoff-tested roster.