All articles tagged with #goaltending
Toronto Maple Leafs sign Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $7 million AAV contract, betting his playoff experience after guiding the Panthers to two straight Cup runs will boost Toronto’s chances; the 37-year-old departs a Panthers team that struggled in 2025-26, with Florida turning to Jacob Markström and Akira Schmid, while Bobrovsky adds two Vezina Trophies and 800+ career games to Toronto's crease.
The New York Rangers acquired goalie Joonas Korpisalo from the Boston Bruins for a 2028 fourth-round pick and forward prospect Kalle Väisänen, making him the frontrunner to back up Igor Shesterkin after Jonathan Quick’s retirement and setting up a potential No. 2 goalie battle with Dylan Garand, who must clear waivers to stay on the NHL roster. Korpisalo, 32, has two years left on a contract with a $3 million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade list; Boston freed cap space with the deal, while Ottawa is retaining part of his previous AAV from a prior trade.
Florida Panthers acquire goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves, a deal tied to Sergei Bobrovsky’s looming departure and aimed at a cap-friendly, competitive goaltending tandem with Akira Schmid. The move gives New Jersey cap relief and depth with Rodrigues and Boqvist as it pursues a broader retool. Analysts grade Panthers a B and Devils a B+, noting Markstrom’s age and recent form as risk but potential upside and a prudent, market-efficient reshaping of two rosters.
Undrafted goalie Brandon Bussi stepped in for a worn Frederik Andersen and led the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup by winning the final three games, including a clinching shutout in Game 6, capping a season built on smart moves and late surges.
Brind'Amour said everybody is available for Game 5 vs. Vegas and will decide between Brandon Bussi, who thrived in Game 4, and Frederik Andersen, who was rested, with Pyotr Kochetkov backing up. Projected forwards: Ehlers-Staal-Jarvis; Hall-Stankoven-Blake; Svechnikov-Aho-Martinook; Carrier-Jankowski-Robinson. Defense: Slavin-Chatfield; Miller-Walker; Gostisbehere-Nikishin. Special teams: PP1 (Aho, Ehlers, Jarvis, Svechnikov with Gostisbehere); PP2 (Blake, Hall, Jankowski, Stankoven with Nikishin). Scratches: Deslauriers, Kotkaniemi, Reilly.
Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy with 114 points and 17 first‑place votes, while Logan Thompson, despite leading in goals saved above expected and posting strong numbers over 58 games for Washington (31-21-6, 2.44 GAA, .912 SV%), was left off the ballots by more than half of GMs and finished fourth. Ilya Sorokin and Jeremy Swayman finished second and third, respectively. An offbeat note from the ceremony: a Tampa police K‑9 unit reportedly detected a suspicious package in Vasilevskiy’s car containing the trophy.
Colorado’s season ended in a Western Conference finals sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights, driven by a collapse in offense, injuries, and shaky goaltending. Key forwards Necas, Nelson and Nichushkin combined for only four goals in 13 playoff games, MacKinnon went 13 games without a five-on-five goal, and injuries to Cale Makar plus others limited Colorado’s effectiveness. The power play went cold, and the team failed to adapt to Vegas’s defensive style, letting leads slip and failing to generate high-danger chances. Vegas benefited from strong defense and timely scoring, with Hart providing standout goaltending, earning a trip to the Final and leaving Colorado with offseason questions, including Nichushkin’s future and roster tweaks.
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.