Unfortunately for both Kuemper and the Avalanche, the playoffs have been filled with inconsistency in the net. His spotty injury history aside, the 32-year-old netminder looked capable of backstopping Colorado to the promised land. He finished fifth in SV% (.921) and produced a plus-16.2 GSAx (fifth), helping the Avalanche to the best record in franchise history. His regular season showing made general manager Joe Sakic look like a genius, as he performed at a borderline Vezina level for most of the campaign. Staring down Vasilevskiy in the Avalanche crease is Darcy Kuemper, acquired from the Arizona Coyotes prior to this season to replace the outgoing Philipp Grubauer, who himself was a Vezina Trophy finalist in the 2020-21 season. The Lightning are a formidable foe, even when discounting Vasilevskiy’s presence, but with him they become a juggernaut.Īndrei Vasilevskiy makes a save on Auston Matthews (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 928 SV% (fourth among goalies with at least four games played), and a plus-10.1 GSAx (third). The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner has elevated his already-stellar play in the playoffs (as usual), submitting a. 916 save percentage (SV%) that ranked 13th among goalies to have played at least 10 games, and plus-17.3 goals saved above expected (GSAx), fourth in the NHL. Vasilevskiy enjoyed a strong regular season, posting a. When the stakes are at their highest, the Russian goalie stands tall without fail. The Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to pad an already Hall-of-Fame calibre resume, and sports an inhuman record in elimination games over the course of the Lightning’s dynastic run. Andrei VasilevskiyĪs both the Avalanche and the Lightning boast a cadre of superstars at both ends of the ice, the series could be decided by which netminder performs better between the pipes. With that, let’s dig into five of the most significant trends, matchups, and storylines set to define the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. No matter which club emerges victorious, both deserve their place under the sport’s brightest lights. Their respective management groups have constructed elite rosters with cunning signings, opportunistic trades, and strong drafting, and set the standard for organizational excellence. The Avalanche and Lightning represent the NHL’s elite franchises, stocked with superstar talent at every position.
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