Six goalkeepers who are causing quite a surprise this season

It is known that the goalie position in hockey is one of the most difficult to master in all sports. When new stars emerge, their achievements deserve to be highlighted.

Here are six goalkeepers that no one really saw coming, and who, in this still very young season, are saving the skin of their respective teams.

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Kevin Lankinen

Imagine that before Thatcher Demko was deemed unfit to start the season with the Vancouver Canucks, Kevin Lankinen did not yet have a contract. The British-Columbian team was forced to bet everything on the inexperienced Arturs Silovs, but a logical solution was emerging.

Lankinen, who did not land a contract after two honest seasons as number two in Nashville, accepted the Canucks’ offer on September 21. Despite this short preparation with his new team, the Finn accomplished miracles.

The 29-year-old has completely taken Silovs out of the equation and is atop the National Hockey League in several categories thanks to a 6-0-2 record, a 2.09 goals-against average and a efficiency rate of .923.

Even with the eventual return of Demko, he will be difficult to get ahead of in the hierarchy.

Anthony Stolarz

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been trying to focus everything on Joseph Woll for several seasons, but injuries and sometimes shaky performances have not worked in the 26-year-old goaltender’s favor.

It was with the intention of muddying the waters that Stolarz came to the Queen City after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. The American exceeded expectations with his 5-2-2 record, 2.12 GAA and .928 save percentage.

A career assistant until now, the 30-year-old giant can finally dream of a number one position. He also wrote the quote “Prove people wrong” behind his helmet. That says it all!

Jake Allen

Even if he plays less than Jacob Markstrom in New Jersey, Jake Allen maintains the pace set by the Devils’ trusted man. The former Montreal Canadiens has enjoyed success since his arrival in Newark and we see flashes of what he offered the St. Louis Blues a decade earlier.

Allen even recorded two shutouts in five starts, and not against small opponents. On Monday, he blanked the Edmonton Oilers (without Connor McDavid) and on October 14, he was the first to impose a setback on the dynamic Utah team.

Lukas got it

At the start of the season, Dostal is allowing the Anaheim Ducks to keep their heads above water, which is no easy feat. The Czech is only ahead of the prolific Igor Shesterkin (.933) for the efficiency rate, at .930.

Dostal’s emergence was seen during the off-season when he was voted the best goaltender at the IIHF World Championship, helping the Czech Republic to the gold medal.

Let’s say that John Gibson’s injury helped him establish himself with the Ducks. Anaheim doesn’t have to look far to identify its goalkeeper of the future, especially with Gibson’s poor performances in recent years.

Justus Annunen

Since Alexandar Georgiev decided to open the valves during the first weeks of the season, the Colorado Avalanche turned to his assistant. Justus Annunen, who did not have 20 games of experience in the Bettman circuit, found himself at the forefront.

The 24-year-old Finn has won five matches so far. The “Avs”, undermined by injuries, allow a lot of goals, but they also score a lot. This quietly helps Annunen to win, although Georgiev is not completely ruled out.

Anton Forsberg

The Ottawa Senators certainly thought they had found the missing ingredient to their recipe for success with the acquisition of goaltender Linus Ullmark. However, the former Vezina Trophy winner with the Boston Bruins is slow to get going.

Quietly, Forsberg has been much more consistent with a positive 3-2-0 record, a .910 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average. Like Jake Allen, he has two shutouts behind the tie.

Was the Swede too quickly pushed aside? One thing is certain: Ullmark has a clear advantage over him with his contract paying him $8.25 million until 2029.

Honorable mentions: Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Joel Blomqvist (Pittsburgh Penguins)