3 Reasons Why the Minnesota Wild Can Win the Stanley Cup

Devan Dubnyk

Devan Dubnyk has been a very good player for the Wild since the day he first put on the uniform in January of 2015. This year, we have seen more of the same from Dubnyk. According to the stats, it's hard to argue that he hasn't been the league's best goalie.

Dubnyk ranks first in goals against average (1.88) and save percentage (.936), as well as second in both wins (27) and shutouts (5). Not only is he posting great surface stats, but his advanced metrics say that he is doing above and beyond what any other goalie is doing.

Dubnyk's high-danger save percentage of 88.1 is by far the best in the league, and it's roughly 6% higher than league average. To give some frame of reference, two goalies who are highly regarded as the best in the league, Carey Price and Braden Holtby. rank 3rd and 5th, respectively, in high-danger save percentage at 86% and 84.7%.

Not only is Dubnyk saving dangerous shots at a considerably higher clip, but the average distance of unblocked shots Dubnyk faces is 29.5 feet compared to 33.4 feet for Price and 34 feet for Holtby, according to Corsica. This means that Dubnyk is seeing tougher shots than Price and Holtby while also making saves at a better rate.

The Wild's fate is may ultimately reside in the glove of Dubnyk. That's a thought that may scare some Minnesota fans, but it shouldn't. Dubnyk has been excellent, and if he plays anywhere near the level he is currently playing at, the Wild are going to be a tough out in the playoffs.

We've seen lesser teams make a run on the coattails of a hot goalie, but as we've seen on the previous slides, Dubnyk has a great team in front of him. Even if his play regresses a bit, Minnesota has enough scoring power to compensate.

The playoffs are chaotic and unpredictable, at times, but the Wild are as well-positioned as anyone in the West to make a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.