Minnesota Wild: Devan Dubnyk is out to prove All-Star naysayers wrong

Devan Dubnyk being named as the Minnesota Wild’s representative at the NHL All-Star Game was a bit of a questionable decision. However, it’d appear he’s out to prove any naysayers wrong.

The whole NHL All-Star Game appears to be centered around high-profile snubs and questionable player choices this year. Devan Dubnyk, despite some really iffy form of late and what we perceived a decline, was named as the Minnesota Wild player of choice and you have to wonder why, at least a little.

However, when his team needed him to prove himself against the offensive talents of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he came up with big results for them.

Although he conceded three goals, one off a shot just seven seconds into the game, he worked hard to recover his focus and definitely was a key factor in the Minnesota Wild leaving Toronto as 4-3 victors.

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Facing 41 shots and saving 38 of those, it’s safe to say that he saw a fair bit of the puck. Of those shots, 11 could be classified as high-danger shots and Devan Dubnyk only allowed one of these through. Not bad for a goaltender that had previously conceded 27 goals across 12 games in the month of December.

He also only gave up 5 rebounds that resulted in shots, a key statistic when you consider that a player like John Tavares will likely be on the other end of said rebound given half the chance.

Devan Dubnyk’s display against the Maple Leafs isn’t the only recent game where he’s had to come up big for his team. Lately, the Minnesota Wild may be losing but when they win, it’s generally as a result of Dubnyk rocking a strong save percentage.

Against the Winnipeg Jets, where the Minnesota Wild triumphed 3-1, he saved all but the 1 shot as the Jets’ offensive talents put the puck on net 27 times.

Now, there is still debate as to whether he should be an All-Star representative; a 3.07 goals against average and a 0.882 save percentage through the month of November would be central to that debate.

Likewise, his 0.912 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average in December still is only in the middling range; not exactly elite and probably not one of the two best goalies this year in the Central Division.

If of course he can continue his start to January and 2019 as he did in the Leafs game, then there’s every chance the naysayers will be silenced.

Right now, with just the one game played, he’s rocking a very respectable 0.927 save percentage, though it’d be best to ignore the 3 goals against average right now!

We’ve seen time and again, when Devan Dubnyk finds his game, he can be one of the elite goalies in the league; this past October’s 0.937 save percentage is proof of that. If the recent performances against the Jets and Maple Leafs are anything to go by, the Minnesota Wild might have that goalie back.

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Here’s hoping that he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder from being named an All-Star representative and he can take that swagger and confidence into the next few games on the East Coast.

Statistics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.

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