Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette had full confidence in backup goaltender Kevin Lankinen as they faced a top-three NHL team with a franchise-record point streak on the line. Lankinen, a 28-year-old Finn, not only met expectations but exceeded them by stopping all 33 shots he faced, securing his first shutout since March 25, 2021, against the same opponent, the Florida Panthers, in a 3-0 victory.
Lankinen expressed his pride in the team’s performance, emphasizing their ability to compete against elite teams like the Panthers. He credited the team’s character and collective effort for the victory, highlighting the enjoyable experience of being part of such a competitive group.
Lankinen’s performance on Thursday wasn’t an isolated incident in his season. Out of his 14 starts, he has faced playoff-caliber teams 10 times, with nine of those games being on the road against opponents with 90 or more points. Impressively, he has emerged victorious against six of these formidable teams.
Head coach Andrew Brunette praised Lankinen’s resilience and consistency in challenging situations, highlighting his ability to deliver solid performances even in tough road games. This latest shutout against a formidable opponent further solidifies Lankinen’s value to the team.
The victory against the Panthers showcased a seamless collaboration between the Predators’ defense and goaltending.
Predators defensemen effectively blocked shooting lanes and restricted the space for Florida’s skaters to take shots. Out of the Panthers’ 33 shots, only six were classified as high-danger chances, three originated from the slot, and three were within three feet of the crease.
The Predators’ blue-liners also excelled on the penalty kill, neutralizing threats from Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaege, and others from the Panthers’ potent power-play unit. This defensive effort limited Florida to just three shots on goal during two power-play opportunities, despite their ranking as the third-best power-play team in the NHL.
Lankinen acknowledged the outstanding performance of the defense, emphasizing that he had clear visibility of every shot and appreciated the team’s efforts in clearing rebounds and reducing scoring opportunities for the opposition.
While Lankinen’s impressive 10-4-0 record and 2.90 goals-against average reflect his capabilities as a backup goaltender, his teammates believe he won’t remain in that role for long. His time with Nashville has revitalized his career after facing challenging seasons in Chicago with teams that struggled significantly in the NHL.
Lankinen has significantly improved key metrics compared to his previous performance. His save percentage has increased by 10 points (.911 to .901), his goals-against average has dropped by nearly half a goal (2.82 to 3.25), and his quality start percentage has seen a substantial rise (.563 to .470). Additionally, his goals-saved above average has improved notably (7.1 to -13.3).
Given these impressive improvements, there is a strong possibility that Lankinen will be competing for a starting goaltender position on another team next season. This belief has been held by the Predators for some time, and it is now likely shared by other teams across the league as well.
