G17 New Jersey Devils vs Toronto Maple Leafs: Vanecek's kryptonite?

If the Devils are to extend their winning streak to 11 games, Vanecek will need to improve his high-danger SV% against a team that converts at a high clip.

Follow along on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey, and everything else, with our writers and subscribers.

---

A few notes to get you set for tonight’s game between New Jersey and Toronto:

Kryptonite SZN?

Vitek Vanecek is having a strong season. He owns a .915 save percentage, has only lost one decision (his 1st start), and is making the saves he should behind a strong Devils team.

Masked in all of the wins – and the team’s sound defensive play – is that Vanecek has quietly struggled against high-danger shots.

Among 38 goaltenders to play at least 300 minutes at 5v5, Vanecek ranks 30th with a .795 high-danger save percentage.

His overall numbers are good – a lot of the shots New Jersey allows are lower percentage looks – but he has been rather pedestrian against quality shots.

Now, that is largely fine. The Devils, as we know, don’t give up a ton of dangerous shots on a nightly basis. But Toronto is the kind of opponent that can ramp things up a notch. That could be problematic.

At 5v5 the Maple Leafs have converted on nearly 20% of their high-danger shots over the last 10 games. That’s the 6th highest rate in the NHL. When they get Grade A looks, they’re good at making the most of them; and a team with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and co. is going to generate their fair share.

I don’t want to say this game will all come down to one player but, well, it might! Vanecek is likely going to see more HD shots than usual. He’s gotta come up with more HD saves than usual, too.