Nashville Predators: Goalies highlight this weeks Power Rankings
The Western Conference race is going to be tight all season, and goalie play will be key. How does it impact the Nashville Predators and our Power Rankings?
The race for Western Conference supremacy is as tight as it can be. While the Nashville Predators remain in the lead in the standings, 9 teams sit within 10 points. Two teams are surging while others are treading water. Still, ten teams vying for position at this point in the season makes for exciting games.
Making the strongest play for the top of our rankings this week is the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs have won five straight games, and are 7-2-1 in their last 10. During their current streak, four of their wins were away from their home, with last night’s victory over the Predators being the most impressive. Nathan MacKinnon‘s line continues to impress, scoring two goals last night.
Another team surging in the standings is Vegas. Winners of four in a row, the Knights outscored their opponents 19-5. Eight of those goals came against the Chicago Blackhawks. We are ever thankful for their service.
The imbalance of the NHL schedule is coming into play as well. Of the top 10 teams, the Vancouver Canuck’s have played the most games, 27. Vegas and Anaheim have competed 26 times, while Dallas, San Jose and Nashville have 25 games under their belt. Colorado, Minnesota, and Calgary have completed 24 games, and Winnipeg 23. With games in hand, any team can make a strong play for the top.
What will help? Goalie play. Can’t win if you can’t stop the puck from going in the net. So, we focus on goalies while ranking the best teams in our power rankings.
A Fleury of hope
Record: 13-12-1
Points: 27
Marc-Andre Fleury started the season off slow, alternating wins and losses for most of his first 17 games. Then, he took off. The Golden Knights have won five of their last six. Fleury was in net for all five victories. The Knights have leaned on him quite a bit. The only time Fleury was not in net during the current streak was on the second night of back-to-back games. However, he was in net the next time around. His numbers outside of the wins are not as impressive as expected.
Of 34 goalies with 500 or more minutes at 5v5, Fleury’s stats are as follows:
Sv%: .907 (29th)
HDSV%: .772 (28th)
GSAA: -5.84 (31st)
Record: 12-10-3
Points: 27
The Dallas Stars are benefiting from solid goalie play this season. Ben Bishop is 8-5-1 so far, with two shutouts. The bad news is Bishop is now on injured reserve, with no updates on when he could return. Anton Khudobin will see most of the action in Bishop’s absence. Khudobin has played in 11 games and allows 2.85 goals against on average. Can the Stars score enough to make up the difference?
West Side Story
When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way, even when your goalie struggles. Cries for Connor Hellebuyck to win the Vezina fell short, and his game followed this season. In 18 games, Hellebuyck is 9-7-1. The numbers at 5v5 show why.
Sv%: .905 (30th)
MDSV%: .856 (34th)
HDSV%: .802 (19th)
GSAA: -5.83 (30th)
Certainly not the levels the Jets were hoping for this season. Good thing they can score goals.
Record: 12-8-5
Points: 29
(Clears voice, sings “Something’s Coming from West Side Story)
Could be…who knows? Will he stop it before it goes into the net?! Thus are the lyrics for Sharks fans when Martin Jones in is net. They may have great defenders, but their goalie play is some of the worst in the NHL. With a -10.92 GSAA, Jones rates last among all goalies with 500 minutes of ice time this year. Only Andrei Vasilevskiy has a lower HDSV%. While the Sharks are a favorite to make it to the Western Conference Final, it will all depend on if Jones can right the ship. Or if the Sharks can find a better alternative.
Wild Nights
Record: 14-8-2
Points: 30
The Wild are playing well at home, with a record of 8-3-2. Devan Dubnyk is a part of the reason, but not as much as the Wild hope. Dubnyk is 21st in SV% (.917) and 26th in HDSV% (.774). The fact the Wild are relying on their defensemen to score is not likely sustainable. Of course, the Predators followed a similar formula last year. But, without better goaltending, the Wild could see struggles down the road.
Record: 14-9-1
Points: 29
Mike Smith is the veteran goalie on the Flames roster, but he is going to struggle to find more time. While he has started 14 games, his .883 SV% and 3.29 GAA are, well, terrible. David Rittich is the Flames hope for success this season. He may be 26, but his play is worthy of praise. At 5v5, Rittich has a .951 SV% (3rd), .900 HDSV% (1st), and an 8.81 GSAA (4th). But, he only has 12 games this season. If this trend continues, the Flames will win the Pacific.
Battle for the top
Record: 14-6-4
Points: 32
Oh, I can hear it now. “But, we beat the Nashville Predators last night.” I applaud you, but this is a season-long assessment. The Avs have won five straight. Their goalie play is not hurting them. Semyon Varlamov is holding his own against the league. His .928 SV% is the best of his career. Last year, he finished with a GSAA of 11.99. So far, he has a 9.37 rating this year. Not bad. Could he repeat his 2013-14 season, when he was Vezina Finalist? Maybe, If he does, the Avs will make a strong push for a Stanley Cup appearance.
Record: 17-7-1
Points: 35
As of right now, the Predators stay atop our rankings. Sure, call it a “homer” move, but look at the evidence. The roster is missing three crucial players and still staying afloat. And, then, there is Pekka Rinne. After winning the Vezina Trophy last season, the 36-year-old Rinne is showing no signs of slowing. Check the 5v5 stats:
SV%: .954 (1st)
MDSV%: .946 (1st)
HDSV%: .863 (7th)
GSAA: 10.3 (2nd)
dark. Next. Best of the first 20 games
The Nashville Predators do rely on Rinne and Juuse Saros quite a bit. With a depleted roster, it has only been worse. Still, Rinne is the best goalie in the Western Conference.
And, in the NHL.