Vezina Power Rankings: Demko enters the discussion
In the third edition of theScore's 2021 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we take a look at which netminders lead the race past the midway point of the season.
GAA = Goals against average
xGA/60 = Expected goals against per 60 minutes
SV% = Save percentage
HDSV% = High-danger save percentage
GSAA = Goals saved above average
Previous ranking: 4
Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% | GSAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-6-3 | 2.17 | 2.23 | .923 | .848 | 9.92 |
Varlamov is one of two netminders to appear on all three installments of our rankings thus far, but he's fallen down the list each time. The 6-foot-2 Russian endured a slight drop in save percentage over his previous 10 starts, though he's shown a tremendous ability to bounce back.
Varlamov is coming off consecutive losses for just the third occasion this season but has yet to drop three straight. He still ranks in the top five in each of the above categories - including wins - and is another hot streak away from making a leap in our rankings.
4. Thatcher Demko, CanucksPrevious ranking: Not ranked
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% | GSAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-11-1 | 2.72 | 2.94 | .919 | .824 | 8.99 |
Demko has given the Canucks new life after their nightmare start. The 25-year-old has won eight of his last 10 outings, allowing just 20 goals while authoring a .942 save percentage over that span. He ranks fourth among all netminders in minutes played and sixth in goals saved above average.
The Canucks puck-stopper gets the slight edge over Varlamov due to Vancouver's poor defense. Although the two goalies have similar save percentages, Demko has faced nearly 200 more shots than Varlamov while the Canucks rank near the bottom of the league in Corsi For percentage, scoring chance share, and expected goals for at five-on-five.
3. Marc-Andre Fleury, Golden KnightsPrevious ranking: 1
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% | GSAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-6-0 | 1.93 | 2.35 | .931 | .844 | 14.44 |
Fleury has been incredible all season for Vegas, and having Robin Lehner back in the fold will afford him some much-needed rest. The 36-year-old has conceded three or more goals in four of his last six starts and owns a .903 save percentage over what's been a busy stretch.
His larger body of work is impossible not to admire, though, and it's kept him in striking distance of his first Vezina. Fleury sits second in save percentage, goals saved above average, and shutouts among all goaltenders this season.
2. Philipp Grubauer, AvalanchePrevious ranking: 2
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% | GSAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-7-0 | 1.71 | 1.96 | .930 | .877 | 14.38 |
As talented as the Avalanche are, they'd be in a heap of trouble if it weren't for Grubauer's tireless play. With backup Pavel Francouz on long-term injured reserve, the German netminder's been in goal for all but one of the club's 20 wins this season. Plus, he leads all goalies in both starts and minutes played.
Grubauer is in the midst of the most dominant stretch of his career. He owns a .974 save percentage during his current seven-game winning streak and has collected three shutouts while allowing only four goals over that span. Grubauer leads all goaltenders this season in high-danger save percentage and shutouts, and he ranks third in goals saved above average.
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy, LightningPrevious ranking: 3
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| Record | GAA | xGA/60 | SV% | HDSV% | GSAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21-3-1 | 1.83 | 2.31 | .933 | .865 | 17.56 |
Vasilevskiy is on top of our rankings for the first time this season. The 2019 Vezina winner has been literally unbeatable since our last edition, putting together a 12-0-0 record with a .938 save percentage and 1.64 goals-against average. He's outperformed his expected goals against per 60 more than any netminder on this list, too, proving he's not simply a product of the Lightning's success.
The Lightning puck-stopper's dominant run is highlighted by his 228:09-minute shutout streak, which spanned over parts of five games earlier this month. Vasilevskiy paces all netminders in save percentage and goals saved above average. He's also yet to lose consecutive contests this season and is undefeated on home ice over 11 starts.
(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)
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