Ex-Blackhawks Goalie Kevin Lankinen Returns to the United Center for Revenge
The Vancouver Canucks are currently on a tear in the NHL, as they look to make the playoffs yet again in 2025.
However tonight, the 2-1-2 team will have to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, who have recently come off of a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Both teams will be on their "A" game tonight, and one of them is former Blackhawks goalie, Kevin Lankinen.
Lankinen wasn't signed by the Blackhawks in 2022, instead opting to go to Nashville to play backup to Juuse Saros with the Predators.
2-years later, and he has arrived Vancouver after holding out for a contract instead of a PTO. It looks to have paid off.
Lankinen has hit the ground running in Vancouver, as he's played 3 games while guarding the crease for the Canucks.
His record is stellar, with 2 wins, and 1 shutout with the team, who are missing starting goalie Thatcher Demko. His GAA is 1.28, with a .953 save percentage.
Lankinen will come into the United Center tonight with Elias Petterson, J.T. Miller with a purpose and that is to demolish the Chicago Blackhawks.
This match will present a challenge, as Connor Bedard will have to figure out how to solve a backup like Lankine, who is playing like Sergei Bobrovsky in the Stanley Cup finals.
Lankinen hasn't been a terrible goalie during his career as he's played 115 games in the NHL, with a 47-43-13 record, 3.02 GAA, and a .906 save percentage.
The Finnish goalie was signed the Blackhawks on May 21st, 2018 after going undrafted and signed a two-year deal. He played in the 2020 AHL Star Game, with the Rockford IceHogs and made his NHL debut in January, 2021.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Kevin Lankinen will lead the Canucks to victory over the Blackhawks tonight in the United Center? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 80.6 % |
| No, not with Bedsy | 14 | 19.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
