Ex-Blackhawks Goalie Kevin Lankinen Returns to the United Center for Revenge
Photo credit: Field Level Media
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.
As a free agent from the Blackhawks, on 14 July 2022, Lankinen was signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators. He was bought in to serve as a backup to Juuse Saros. On 3 March 2023, the Predators signed Lankinen to a one-year, $2 million contract extension.
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 | ||
OCTOBRE 22 | 72 ANSWERS Ex-Blackhawks Goalie Kevin Lankinen Returns to the United Center for Revenge 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 | ||
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