Devan Dubnyk is making yet another strong case to be ranked among the best goalies in the game.
The Minnesota Wild netminder made 25 saves Thursday in a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins, not only outdueling counterpart Tuukka Rask - who stopped 28 of 29 shots in the loss - but also passing Carey Price for the best save percentage among goalies with at least 10 appearances.
In addition, Dubnyk recorded his league-leading fourth shutout of the season.
Here's how the impressive trio of early Vezina Trophy candidates stack up:
| Goalie | Games | Record | Sv% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devan Dubnyk | 13 | 7-5-1 | .952 | 4 |
| Carey Price | 11 | 10-0-1 | .948 | 2 |
| Tuukka Rask | 12 | 10-2-0 | .947 | 3 |
Dubnyk's record would be better if the Wild offense offered him a bit more support. Four of Dubnyk's losses have come in November, in which Minnesota scored just three total goals, including a pair of shutouts.
For his part, he doesn't seem to be holding any grudges:
Dubnyk: "It's not my job to score. It's my job to work with the guys & defend. And I have zero complaints about that. This is a fun group."
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 18, 2016
Dubnyk, of course, was a Vezina finalist in 2015 after going on a remarkable half-season upon joining the Wild.
His numbers leveled off in 2015-16, but he appears to be back in top form, much to the delight and amazement of new head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Even if - or when - Dubnyk's save percentage falls to more human levels, the Wild could be a team to reckon with if the puck starts to go in at the other end with greater regularity.
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