Don’t panic over dismal start for Flames goalie Markstrom just yet
Make no mistake: Jacob Markstrom is a Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender.
But he hasn’t played up to that expectation early in the 2022-23 season, either.
Markstrom, the runner-up as the NHL’s goaltender of the year last June after turning in a 37-win campaign, is off to the slowest start since turning into a starting-level backstop seven seasons ago.
Among goalies with at least three starts, Markstrom ranks 26th overall with a .882 save percentage. His 2.93 goals-against average slots 20th, while his 0.4 goals saved above-expected slots 17th, as does his 0.07 wins above replacement, according to MoneyPuck.
It’s led to the slowest October start since becoming a starting contender back in the 2016-17 season:
- 2022-23: 3-0-0, 2.93 GAA, .882 SV%
- 2021-22: 2-1-1, 1.99 GAA, .934 SV%
- 2020-21: 2-1-1, 2.26 GAA, .928 SV%
- 2019-20: 2-2-0, 2.23 GAA, .926 SV%*
- 2018-19: 2-2-0, 3.23 GAA, .903 SV%*
- 2017-18: 1-2-1, 2.96 GAA, .902 SV%*
- 2016-17: 3-0-1, 1.95 GAA, .923 SV%*
*with Vancouver
Markstrom can feel it, at least on some level too.
“It was nice to play in the third,” Markstrom said, tongue-in-cheek, after turning in a 12-save 20 minutes — and a bonus stop in overtime — in Calgary’s 3-2 overtime win against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
The quote came after the 32-year-old had been yanked against the Buffalo Sabres two nights prior. Backup Dan Vladar got tagged with the loss in that effort.
"We responded the right way."
Jacob Markstrom talks about his team's play in the comeback victory over Carolina. pic.twitter.com/GnlAYXvFrV
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 23, 2022
“Obviously until today I don’t think I really have been where I have to be and I’m still not there yet,” he continued. “But right now, it’s getting closer. I can feel it. I think everyone else can see it as well. On the right path. Just have to keep grinding and putting in work.”
Glass half full, Markstrom — who also battled illness to start this year’s campaign — is among just eight goaltenders to remain undefeated this season.
That’s one small victory and not the worst company to be in.
The other is that the Flames, boasting a 4-1-0 record, have yet to find a rhythm in front of him, too.
Though Calgary sits atop the Pacific Division in terms of winning percentage at .800 — the Vegas Golden Knights have a two-point lead with two more games played — they’ve yet to find that stingy rhythm defensively.
The club has coughed up 71% of giveaways in the defensive zone this season (up from 60.34% last year), sixth-worst in the league, and they’ve given up 30% of their total goals against on rebounds (last year was an NHL-low 9.18%), so not a lot of help after initial stops coming for the keepers, MoneyPuck shows.
They’ve also averaged a full high-danger chance against per game more, and scoring chances against are up around 20% per game on the Flames, too.
Not ideal.
But no reason to panic with the starter.
He did, after all, finish tied for third amongst goalies with a .922 save percentage last season. He did, of course, rock the NHL’s second-best goals-against at 2.22 last season.
He did, of course, lead all backstops with nine shutouts last season.
“You have to have a short-term memory when you’re a goalie,” Markstrom said.
But, perhaps, not always.
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