The Vancouver Canucks have been navigating a bit of a goalie shuffle this season, with Kevin Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo sharing starting duties. Initially, it seemed more about Lankinen's struggles rather than Tolopilo's prowess.
But March brought a change for Lankinen, who finally found his groove, posting three consecutive games with a save percentage over .900. For the month, he hit an .889 save percentage, marking his second-best performance of the season.
Lankinen's resurgence has earned him the starting role back, and Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings was his fifth straight start. This shift has sparked a new conversation around the Canucks’ netminding situation, focusing on when Tolopilo might return to the crease.
It appears that head coach Adam Foote has lost some trust in Tolopilo. With the Canucks sitting comfortably in 32nd place and just 11 games left, wins and losses might not seem crucial. However, Foote is still committed to fielding the lineup he believes gives the team the best chance to win.
After a loss to the Anaheim Ducks, Foote explained his decision to stick with Lankinen: “We had a solid start against Seattle, and Tolo played well before, but we’re trying to build momentum with our young guys. We’re playing with more confidence, and that’s mainly why we’re leaning on Lanks. We’ll manage it day by day.”
Foote's comments suggest that the team feels more assured with Lankinen in goal. Tolopilo’s last start, a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, saw him struggle, which might explain the shift in trust.
Looking ahead, the Canucks have two sets of back-to-back games in their final 11 matchups. They’ll face Colorado and Minnesota on April 1st and 2nd, and San Jose and Anaheim on the 11th and 12th. Before that, they have games against Calgary and Vegas.
Throwing Tolopilo in against powerhouses like Colorado or Minnesota after a long break might be risky. A more strategic move could be giving him a start against the Calgary Flames, a less formidable opponent, allowing him to regain some rhythm before tackling tougher teams.
Ultimately, how the Canucks manage their goaltenders in the final stretch remains to be seen, but it’s clear they’re looking to balance development with competitive play.