Ugly Stats, Strong Play: The Case for Kevin Lankinen

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen is getting a raw deal. His numbers are ugly. They scream “struggling goalie,” “overpaid,” “what is he even doing?” But if you actually watch the guy play, the story is entirely different.

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The Canucks Record Doesn’t Help Lankinen Look Good on Paper

Last week, the Canucks went 1-2-0. That’s a ton better than they’ve been doing. Still, on paper, it looks like Lankinen is getting steamrolled by the opposition. But, in reality, he was a major reason Vancouver even managed that win over the Panthers. The saves he made, and the calmness he showed in the crease, were Lankinen at his best.

When Lankinen’s on his game, the guy is just rock solid. This whole season, he’s been carrying the team on his back while the guys in front of him kept making one mistake after another. In that Tampa Bay game, things got ugly on the scoreboard, but he still came up with a couple of glove saves on Hagel that were magic.

Lankinen’s Games Haven’t Been One-Offs

That Lightning game wasn’t just a fluke. He put in basically the same performance against the Blues later that week. Both nights, the Canucks were leaky on defence, but Lankinen held his own. At some point, there’s only so much one goalie can handle when the puck keeps flying at him. Sooner or later, something’s going to find a way in.

The skepticism around his five-year deal isn’t going anywhere. And some Canucks’ fans grumble that he’s no Demko. But that misses the point. Lankinen isn’t trying to be someone else. He’s just being himself and showing that even in a season that’s gone off the rails, he can keep the ship from sinking entirely.

With Demko’s Health Uncertain, Lankinen Remains a Key

With Thatcher Demko’s long-term health in question, Lankinen actually will have plenty of chances to remind everyone why he earned his spot. Because the Canucks are out of playoff contention, the reasons to win are limited. So why not let him get some starts and let him make the saves that make you sit back and shake your head?

Numbers can lie. And Kevin Lankinen is proof that, even if the stat sheet says he’s struggling, he’s playing better than it looks. And for a team that’s limping to the finish line, that’s exactly the kind of magic you want in your net.

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