He earned a second-place Vezina vote during his first full season in Philadelphia, where he posted a 2.50 goals against average and an impressive .917 save percentage. He was even better the next year, finishing with a 2.25 GAA and .928 SV%. He didn’t receive a single vote that year. The 18-18-11 record likely had something to do with that, though<\/p>\n
But the Flyers could have another goaltender in the Vezina conversation again. He may not win the award, but he deserves some serious consideration after his first regular season in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Dan Vladar deserves Vezina consideration <\/p>\n
Vladar came to the Flyers having never been a starter in the NHL. He hadn’t been given the chance to become one and was ready for the challenge. Speaking about why he wanted to come to Philadelphia, having the chance to take the crease as his was a big reason why. And he more than proved that he was up for the challenge. <\/p>\n
On the surface level, his .906 SV% and 2.42 GAA aren’t the flashiest in the league, though the latter is third in the league amongst regular starters. But they are career-highs for Vladar. You’d have to dig deeper to find out why his numbers are more impressive than they appear. Of his 52 games this season, Vladar has only allowed three goals or more in 17 of them. One of the best goaltenders in the league, Andrei Vasilevskiy, had 23 appearances in which he allowed three or more goals in his 58 games played.<\/p>\n
That’s not to say that Vladar is on the same level as Vasilevskiy, but there are other stats<\/a> where he rises above. At 5-on-5, Vladar’s .926 SV% is tied with Igor Shesterkin for the best in the league amongst goaltenders who have played at least 2,000 minutes this season. His 1.80 GAA is first. And his 20.91 goals saved above expected is fourth. That’s understandable because the three above him have played 100-200 more minutes at 5-on-5, but it is impressive nonetheless. <\/p>\n An area Vladar thrives in comes in high-danger shots. In its simplest form, shots are given values based on where they are taken on the ice. A high danger shot will typically come from inside the slot, which is where it’s most likely to score a goal. Vladar ranks atop the league with an .850 save percentage at 5-on-5, though he remains first when looking at all situations. He has faced the lowest number of high danger shots, but that should be something in his favor.<\/p>\n
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