![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29128a3b297cc5c0f9d856f63a58d7db-1024x674.jpeg)
Do you know that as of Friday evening, 75 goalies have appeared in an NHL sport, but solely 40 have a save proportion (SV%) of .900 or higher?
Solely 53.3% of present NHL goalies have a decent SV%, as outlined by analytics since a netminder should cease a minimum of 90% of the pictures they face to seek out success within the league.
Matt Larikin from DailyFaceoff recently highlighted that the league’s general SV% dipped underneath .900 for the primary time in 29 years.
The NHL’s common save proportion dipped to .900 earlier this week. That may be the bottom mark in 29 years.
Why are goalies having a harder time stopping the puck?
My story on trying to find reply(s) with assist from information and goalie consultants:https://t.co/tAic1MI9Dt
— Matt Larkin (@MLarkinHockey) November 15, 2024
A few of the most distinguished names on the sub .900 SV% checklist embrace Sergei Bobrovsky, Jeremy Swayman, Linus Ullmark, Stuart Skinner, and Alexandar Georgiev.
In Montreal, Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau are having tough begins to their respective seasons. Montembeault ranks forty fifth within the league with a .893 SV%, and Primeau ranks 69th with a .845 SV%.
Collectively, the duo have mixed for a .875 SV%. Final yr, with Jake Allen within the combine, the Canadiens had a .902 SV%, which was an enchancment from the 2022-23 marketing campaign, when the crew completed with a .895 SV% with the identical three goalies.
Since Carey Worth’s final full season, 2020-21, here is a breakdown of Montreal’s save percentages:
-
2021-22: six goalies .894 SV%
-
2022-23: three goalies .895 SV%
-
2023-24: three goalies .902 SV%
Apparently, throughout Worth’s whole 15-season profession with the Canadiens, the crew by no means had a marketing campaign with a sub .900 SV%, coming shut in his remaining season after they went to the Stanley Cup Last, ending at .901. It was the bottom SV% for Montreal since 2000, edging out a .903 marketing campaign in 2000-01.
Furthermore, whereas Worth performed full seasons with the Canadiens, the crew averaged a .919 SV% from 2008 to 2021. Sadly, even heroes lose alternatives to exit on prime, which occurred to Worth over his remaining 5 video games in 2021-22, the place he compiled a career-worst .878 SV%.
In the meantime, as soon as the franchise wins chief hung up his skates, Montreal netminders averaged only a .891 SV%, marking the roughest stretch in latest reminiscence.
Now, individuals will say it is pure for the reason that Canadiens are rebuilding. However their goalies, Montembeault and Primeau, have but to point out progress, solely regression these days, which explains why the crew is on tempo for its worst SV% season since 1985-86, when Patrick Roy, Doug Soetaert, and Steve Penney mixed for a .873 SV%.
Related: Canadiens Price Among First Ballot Hall Of Fame Candidates In 2025
Despite the fact that Montembeault and Primeau have had their justifiable share of struggles making saves, they don’t seem to be alone. A number of Vezina-caliber goalies have the identical issues, which explains why the general SV% averages are down for the primary time in a long time.
Bookmark THN’s Montreal Canadiens web site for the most recent information, unique interviews, breakdowns, and extra.
