Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen makes NHL history following another shootout victory
Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen has made National Hockey League history on Monday night following yet another shootout win, this time against Seattle.
Amid the Vancouver Canucks' tough 2025-26 season, there have been very few bright spots to talk about as the club begins to transition into what they're calling a hybrid retool with the team expected to part with their pending UFAs, and potentially some veteran players, before the trade deadline.
"We felt that the package Minnesota came up with, with the younger players and it gives us a chance to step back here and retool it a little bit with a hybrid form and getting two young players, Buium is 20, Ohgren is 21 and we needed a center here and Rossi is a highly-talented player that's very consistent in the league and just 24." GM Patrik Allvin said recently.
One player that has been mentioned as a potential trade chip for the Vancouver Canucks is Finnish netminder Kevin Lankinen, who is in the first year of a five-year contract worth $4.5 million USD annually.
"I think there is going to be a little bit of a goalie market here, and I'm wondering if one if not both of the Vancouver goalies are gonna be available." Irfaan Gaffar said during a late-November edition of the DFO Rundown podcast with David Pagnotta.
Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Lankinen makes NHL history after yet another shootout victory
Despite his name popping up in the rumor mill briefly, Kevin Lankinen has stepped up in a big way at various points this season when the Vancouver Canucks desperately needed him to.
On Monday night, Lankinen was back between the pipes for the Vancouver Canucks as they took on the Seattle Kraken and he had one of his best performances of the season.
The Helsinki native make 37 saves on 39 shots in regulation and overtime to force a shootout, where he's had plenty of success in his career and for the second time in as many games for him, he stopped all shots he faced, leading the Canucks to a much-needed win.
According to @GinoHard_ on X, Kevin Lankinen now has the best shootout save percentage in National Hockey League history at .888.
"Kevin Lankinen:
• Has not allowed a goal in the shootout all season (17 for 17)
• 48 for 54 in his career
• Best shootout SV% in NHL history (.888 SV%)
Absolutely INSANE numbers in the skills competition 😵🤯" @GinoHard_ said.
• Has not allowed a goal in the shootout all season (17 for 17)
• 48 for 54 in his career
• Best shootout SV% in NHL history (.888 SV%)
Absolutely INSANE numbers in the skills competition 😵🤯" @GinoHard_ said.
Lankinen will be back between the pipes this coming weekend as the Vancouver Canucks have another back-to-back and interestingly enough, they're facing the two teams that the 30-year-old just beat in his last couple of starts - the Seattle Kraken and Boston Bruins.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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DECEMBRE 30|1484 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen makes NHL history following another shootout victory Keeping in mind their hybrid retool plan, who do you think the Vancouver Canucks should start more between now and the end of the regular season? | ||
| Thatcher Demko | 712 | 48 % |
| Kevin Lankinen | 772 | 52 % |
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