NHL: Top-5 goaltending tandems for the 2020-21 season

3. Darcy Kuemper/Antti Raanta, Arizona Coyotes

In the 2019-20 season, these teammates both finished in the top ten in save percentage (92.8 for Darcy Kuemper and 92.1 for Antti Raanta) in the NHL, while Kuemper finished towards the top in goals against as well (2.22).

In the postseason, though, Kuemper really showed off his abilities in the Qualifiers against the Nashville Predators, allowing only 11 goals on 163 shots. In addition, he recorded a save percentage of 92.5 or higher in five of his nine playoff games in the Edmonton bubble.

This goaltending duo comes in at number three because we have seen these two players combine to be an effective pairing already, which is something that can’t really be said for numbers four and five. The Coyotes will rely heavily on these two players in the 2021 season.

2. Ben Bishop/Anton Khudobin, Dallas Stars

The Stars have used this goaltending tandem method well in recent years, continuously putting themselves atop the league’s defensive hierarchy. In 2020, the importance of having two quality options was exemplified by the Stars’ Western Conference championship.

Throughout the regular season, Bishop was the starter, going 21-16-4 with a 2.50 GAA and a 92 save percentage, while Khudobin went 16-8-4, accumulating a 2.22 GAA and a 93 save percentage. In the playoffs, however, Khudobin stole the show and posted a 14-10 record, a 2.69 GAA, and a 91.7 save percentage.

The uncertainty surrounding Bishop’s ability to stay healthy in the upcoming season is a big reason why this tandem is number two on the list. What is certain, though, is that these two are both capable of carrying the load for Dallas as this unprecedented season looms.