NHL: Ranking the starting goaltenders of the Atlantic Division

After backstopping the Penguins to two Stanley Cups, Matt Murray saw his role in Pittsburgh taken over by Tristan Jarry. A subsequent trade to Ottawa resulted, and now Murray will take over the Senators starting job after signing a four-year extension. If Murray’s play continues from last year, Ottawa’s faith in the 26-year old will surely be tested.

Despite a winning record of 20-11-5, Murray posted a career-low .899 SV% and a 2.87 GAA, the second-highest mark of his career. The Ontario native posted an abysmal GSAA of -11.60 and an equally as poor QS% of 42.1.

Murray did do a respectable job in high danger scenarios, posting a .816 HDSV% and a 1.50 HDGAA, but those numbers didn’t change the fact that eight of his 38 starts qualified as RBS. Hopefully, the change of scenery can reinvigorate the Stanley Cup winner, who needs a bounce-back year for Ottawa.

Linus Ullmark may be the least recognized name in this division, but the Swedish goaltender was excellent for Buffalo last year. He went 17-14-3 with a 2.69 GAA and a .915 SV% while earning the rest of the organization and succeeding Carter Hutton as the starting netminder.

Ullmark has been inconsistent over his NHL career but made massive strides in 2019-20 when he vastly improved his numbers from the prior year. He recorded a QS% of 55.9 while only having two RBS, helping increase his GSAA to 5.39.

Ullmark struggled in high-danger chances, which he has to improve upon if he wants to remain a number one goaltender in the NHL. He had an HDSV% of just .785, which ranked 62nd, and an HDGAA of 1.75, which ranked 58th. The 27-year old has potential but is still a work in progress for Buffalo.