Predlines
Fansided

Nashville Predators: Power Ranking the Central Division Goaltenders

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 3: Fans cheer Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators as he leaves the ice following a 1-0 shutout win against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on November 3, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 3: Fans cheer Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators as he leaves the ice following a 1-0 shutout win against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on November 3, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a glove save against Kevin Fiala #22 of the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on October 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets makes a glove save against Kevin Fiala #22 of the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on October 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Chasing down the Jets

The Jets continue to lead the Central Division thanks to their lethal scoring attack. They pile up the goals and can put them up quickly. They’re not enjoying all of this current success due to stellar goaltending. In fact, Connor Hellebuyck is playing very ordinary despite the Jets staying in first place. The Jets are 4-1 over Hellebuyck’s last five starts, even though he’s given up three more goals in four of those five games. He’s not stonewalling teams and having to carry the team on his back.

Hellebuyck is fully capable of getting hot in the playoffs and making the Jets an unstoppable force. That’s what is so scary about this team in the playoffs. Hellebuyck is an x-factor, like many goaltenders, that can make the Jets the front-runner in the playoffs. However, he’s not trending in the right direction. His quality start percentage is way below the league average at 42 percent. That tells me the Jets are having to rely on scoring three-plus goals per game to get wins. They’re managing to do that right now, but will it last?

The Jets also have a reliable backup goaltender in Laurent Brossoit to step in on any given night and give his team a chance to win. He’s won four of his last five starts, including a shutout against Vancouver in mid-December. As of now, the Jets aren’t winning because of goaltending. If that changes, then the entire league will be chasing the Jets.

Home/Editorials