Through three games, Jack Campbell is out-dueling Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy
It was a tale of two seasons for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell. During the first three months of the season (October 2021 to December 2021), he led all goaltenders who had played six games or more in save percentage with .937, but the following few months, he struggled mightily. From January 1st through the remainder of the season, Campbell posted a .893 save percentage. For reference, the league wide save percentage this season was .907.
Between the up and down play from Campbell and his history of injuries, many wondered what version of "Soup" we would see come playoff time. But through the first three games, Campbell has posted two wins, one shutout, and has stopped 85 of the 92 shots he has faced for a very respectable average of .924 against the high powered offense of the Tampa Bay Lightning. His counterpart in the Lightning net, Andrei Vasilevskiy, has not done statistically as well, stopping 89 of the 100 shots he has faced, for a .890 save percentage.
But as we know with goaltenders, it is not always about how many saves - sometimes it is about a timely save. Andrei Vasilevskiy showed this first hand in game two. With the Leafs trailing by one early in the second period, Vasilevskiy made a glove save on Leafs' defensemen Timothy Liljegren shortly before Corey Perry made it 2-0 for the Lightning, en route to a 5-3 victory.
Fast forward to game three, where the Leafs had a three goal lead midway through the game. The Lightning did not go away easily, crawling back within one with 14 minutes remaining in the third and really upping the pressure. Leafs fans, having watched leads slip away in the past, knew that Jack Campbell would need to come up with a big save. And that he did just that. Not once, but twice. First, by stopping Lightning forward Nick Paul when he blew by Leafs defensemen T.J. Brodie midway through the third period.
Then, by stopping a one-timer from Tampa Bay Lightning captain and all-time franchise leading goal-scorer Steven Stamkos during a Leafs penalty kill late in the game.
Ultimately, Soup earned the win in game three, stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced and, while this series is far from over, Leafs fans should be encouraged to see that Campbell is back at the top of his game. As the saying for goaltenders goes, it's not always about quantity, it's about quality and getting those timely saves. In game three, it was both for Jack Campbell.
| POLL | ||
MAI 7 | 324 ANSWERS Through three games, Jack Campbell is out-dueling Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy Who has been the best Leaf so far this series? | ||
| Auston Matthews | 38 | 11.7 % |
| Mitch Marner | 93 | 28.7 % |
| Jack Campbell | 171 | 52.8 % |
| Other | 22 | 6.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
