The NHL’s premier developmental league has
repeatedly showcased exceptional goaltending talent. This year is no different.
By Tyler Piccotti
For casual hockey
fans, it may be easy to forget that there’s still plenty of hockey being played
on American and Canadian soil. The American Hockey League is currently in the
midst of another season of minor league action.
Wait. Let me
correct that last statement. It may technically be a “minor” league, but the
AHL is currently full of top-flight professional talent.
This is especially
true at the goaltender position. A multitude of NHL stars proved themselves in
the AHL before making it to the hockey equivalent of “the show.” Among them are
Ryan Miller, Dwayne Roloson, and Miikka Kiprusoff.
However, I’m
concerned about this year’s crop of talent. Here are four goalies that are
currently playing about as well as one possibly can:
Jeff Zatkoff, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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Since their
inaugural game in 1999, the Penguins have been one of the most successful teams
in the league. One reason is the continuous flow of exceptional goaltenders
they have seen, the most notable of which is Marc-Andre Fleury. This year,
however, the focus is on Jeff Zatkoff. He currently ranks second in the league
with a 1.62 goals against average. He is also tied for second with three
shutouts. His play is making Penguins fans forget about backup Brad Thiessen, a
former winner of the league’s Aldege Bastien Memorial Award. He has been a
reliable workhorse for a team lacking offensive firepower.
Robin Lehner, Binghamton Senators
Lehner was the
catalyst in the Senators’ 2011 Calder Cup run. After a subpar season last year,
he has returned with a vengeance. He is among the league leaders in wins with
eight. The main reason for this is his ridiculous .950 save percentage. His hot
start has Binghamton fourth in the Eastern Conference and looking like one of
the favorites to earn a playoff berth. He has 13 career NHL starts, but he
should get plenty more if he continues on his torrid pace.
Curtis McElhinney, Springfield Falcons
A former rising
star in the Calgary Flames organization, McElhinney’s career was almost
derailed by a severe abdominal injury last season. Luckily, he recovered and
was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, he is tearing up the AHL with nine
victories and four shutouts this season for Springfield. His .940 save
percentage isn’t all that shabby either. He has led the Falcons to the second
spot in the Eastern Conference, and he makes them an instant challenger for
Syracuse’s conference supremacy.
Dustin Tokarski, Syracuse Crunch
Speaking of
Syracuse, the Crunch has an exceptional goalie in Dustin Tokarski. He was a
brick wall in net for the Norfolk Admirals last season as the team won an
incredible 28 games in a row, a professional record. He was even better in the playoffs as the
Admirals steamrolled their way to the league title. This year, he has picked up
where he left off. He sports a 1.89 GAA and eight victories so far this season.
More importantly, he has the Crunch atop the Eastern Conference. He has
provided the defense for a team with explosive offensive weapons, one being
league MVP Corey Conacher. He may very well be a tow-time champion when all is
said and done this season.
