The NHL’s greatest scorers will be on the ice at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game at FLA LIVE Arena in Sunrise, Fla., Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).
stars like Connor McDavid And Leon Drystel from Edmonton Oilers, David Pasternak boston Bruins, Sidney Crosby to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nathan McKinnon From the Colorado Avalanche and Alex Ovechkin From the Washington Capitals looking to fill the net.
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But they will be up against some of the best goaltenders in the NHL, along with Igor Shesterkin From the New York Rangers and Ilya Sorokin New York Islanders representing the Capital Division, Linus Ullmark Bruins f Andrey Vasilevsky From the Tampa Bay Lightning plays for the Atlantic Division, Conor Hellbwick from the Winnipeg Jets and Juuse Saros Nashville Predators in goal for the Central Division and Logan Thompson From Vegas Golden Knights and Stuart Skinner From the Oilers Defenders of the Pacific Division.
Which goalkeeper is the best and will shine in Florida? That’s the question posed to NHL.com staff writer David Satriano and editor-in-chief Bill Price in this segment of State Your Case.
Satriano: Like Frank Sinatra sings, it’s “New York, New York” to me. As in, I’m taking the two goaltenders from the D.C. division who play in New York. We’ll start with Shesterkin, the Vezina Trophy winner who was voted the best goaltender in the NHL. He hasn’t slowed down this season with 21 wins, a 2.45 goals-against average and a 0.918 save percentage. Sorokin has a 2.38 GAA and a . 923 save percentage and is tied for four shutouts Jake Oettinger From the Dallas Stars for second place in the NHL. I know there are some other goalkeepers in some other teams, but this tandem is the best for me.
Video: CAR @ NYI: Sorokin Stones Burns, Stats me in distress
price: Being the gentleman, I let David make the first choice and I wasn’t shocked by his choice. Well, my choice might be shocking. I’m going with the central section along with Hellebuyck and Saros. That’s right, I take these two above Vasilevskiy and Ullmark from the Atlantic Division. Here’s why: Hellebuyck and Saros might be the hottest goalies in the NHL and given them a chance to shine on the big stage, they’ll be ready. They better face the Pacific Division in the first game, and I feel a win there will give them confidence going into the final game. Shesterkin and Sorokin are the headliners, Vasilevskiy and Ullmark could be the two best guards in the NHL, but I’ll take on Hellebuyck and Saros.
Video: NSH @ CAR: Saros sets franchise record with 64 saves
Satriano: The Central certainly boasts two veterans who have had a lot of success with Vezina 2020 winner Hellebuyck and last season finalist Saros. Since the start of 2021-22, they’ve been #1 and #2 in the NHL for starting, saves and shots at me, and there’s no arguing from me that Vasilevskiy is the best goaltender in the NHL. But what we’ve seen from Shesterkin and Sorokin, all 27, the past two seasons is something to watch. Sorokin leads all goaltenders in save percentage (. 928, with a 50-game minimum) and Shersterkin is third (. 924). Sorokin also leads the NHL in that span with 11 shutouts, and I can’t wait to see what dazzling save he makes against the likes of Nikita KucherovPasternak and the rest of the Atlantic Division teams in their first game. If they make it to the final, that will only be a bonus.
Video: WSH@NYR: Shesterkin saves the glove admirably
price: There’s no doubt that Shesterkin and Sorokin have been great the past two seasons, but this All-Star Game is a different animal, and as you point out, Hellebuyck (third All-Star) and Saros (second) have been here before, and this is new to Shesterkin and Sorokin. In fact, Vasilevskiy is the only other goaltender besides Hellebuyck and Saros with any NHL All-Star Game experience. And if you want to look at the stats, Hellebuyck is tied for second to Sorokin and Oettinger in save percentage (0.923) among goaltenders to play at least 20 games. Ulmark (.936) is the first and Saros (.920) is associated with Alexander Georgiev The Avalanche is in sixth place. Again, I’m going to rely on experience here. While it would be great to see this debate settle the ice in the final All-Star Game, whatever game we get will be great for the fans.