NHL Goalies On the Rise: Lukas Dostal's Surge Leading Ducks in Strong Early Season Run

A number of second-tier goalies are coming off a good stretch last week. Sustaining that level will certainly help their teams rise above preseason expectations.

Find out who is expected to be between the pipes with RotoWire's NHL Starting Goalies page!

Rising NHL Goalies Exceeding Expectations 

Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks

One month into the season, we see the Ducks with the best record, 8-3-1, in the Pacific Division. A key part of this early success is the stellar play of Dostal, who has started 10 games to date.  Last week, he posted the best goalie metrics in the league through his three games played, registering three wins while turning aside 78 of 84 shots on goal.

As the talent has improved around him, he's facing fewer shots on goal than he's been accustomed to in prior years. That bodes well for the Ducks' potential to be more competitive than many onlookers had predicted.

Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild

Gustavsson has been a fixture in the top goalie role in Minnesota, seeing a steady rise in his workload over the last three seasons. As he has started 11 of the club's 14 games so far in 2025-26, it's clear that he retains the lead goalie role over Jesper Wallstedt. While he had a shaky beginning to this season, Gustavsson just came through with a solid week in which he won two of his three starts while allowing only seven goals, facing a total of 95 shots.

He would like to break out of a career-long trend of alternating great seasons with ordinary ones during his four prior campaigns.

Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs

Stolarz has been taxed by a heavier-than-expected workload so far, due to the fact that his expected partner in the crease, Joseph Woll, has yet to play due to a personal issue. Stolarz has already started 10 of the Leafs' first 13 games, posting a 3.12 GAA and .896 save percentage -- both worse numbers than the great ratios he posted last season.

The Leafs as a whole have not buttoned things down defensively as they did through much of last season. Last week, though, Stolarz and the Leafs may have turned a corner as he recorded three wins while stopping 91 of 99 shots on goal.

Overall, Toronto has won five of its last six games. They are getting healthier, and Woll should be back to reduce the heavy workload for Stolarz. All that news should benefit this goalie tandem.

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

Through their first 15 games, the Bruins have emerged with a somewhat surprising winning record that's allowed them to keep pace in the Atlantic Division.

Swayman has started nine games, and his numbers are in line with last season, which was the worst in his young career. He had been blitzed in two of his first seven starts, but last week he was very solid in recording a pair of wins while allowing only four goals out of 62 shots that he faced.

The belief was that his workload was too high (58 games played) last season. It appears that the split of starting assignments with Joonas Korpisalo will be a little more balanced than the significant skew of last season.    

Alex Nedeljkovic, San Jose Sharks

While the Sharks aren't keeping up with their two cross-state rivals in Los Angeles so far, they are counting on their goaltending to be a real asset this season. Nedeljkovic came over from Pittsburgh as a free agent to work in tandem with Yaroslav Askarov and form a nice foundation for this young roster.   

Last week, Nedeljkovic held his own to record a win and an overtime loss in his two starts, providing an indication that he can be an effective component when called upon.   

While Askarov likely has the inside edge in terms of game starts due to his prospect pedigree, more strong efforts from Nedeljkovic -- last week's damage was only four goals against, while making 59 saves -- should earn him a fair share of starting assignments

Struggles and Regression Among Goalies Who Fired Several Duds Last Week

Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

With a flurry of key injuries to the Panthers' roster early this season, there was an expectation that Bobrovsky's stat line would take a hit.

That has come to pass already, as his goals against average (2.81) and save percentage (88.3%) are well off his career norms.     

We are left to wonder if the 38-year-old is regressing a little or if much more of the impact is due to the missing talent in front of him.

Last week, he earned a win, but was also shelled for seven goals in a loss. His save percentage was in an unacceptable range in both games as he was tagged for 10 goals against out of 54 shots on goal.

While many pundits believe that the Panthers will be a playoff team as usual, the reality is that their competition has gotten stronger as well, and they can't afford to give up too much more ground as they have started this season poorly, sitting last in the Atlantic Division at 6-6-1.

Spencer Knight, Chicago Blackhawks

While the 'Hawks have shown modest improvement with their 5-5-3 record, there are going to be some bumps in the road. Knight bore the brunt of recent missteps, as he was burned for nine goals over two losing starts last week.

He's started nine of 13 games, which is likely a good indicator of the expected split of season-long assignments between him and Arvid Soderblom.

There is reason for optimism in noting that his stats (2.82 GAA, .913 save percentage) are solid enough that he should be considered a significant asset in most fantasy hockey formats.

Impact of Injuries and Depth Chart Shifts on Top Goaltender Roles

Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia Flyers

The revolving door, which represents the ever-changing goalie depth chart in Philadelphia, now shows that they will be without Ersson, who was expected to repeat as their top goalie. He's currently on injured reserve, dealing with a lower-body injury. This is only one factor in trying to retain his role. Free agent pickup Dan Vladar has also excelled in his eight starts with his new club (2.33 GAA, .912 save percentage).         

Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jarry started off this season in fine form, riding the wave of the Penguins' surprisingly positive start. He had posted impressive stats (2.60 GAA, .911 save percentage) in his seven games, but he suffered a lower-body injury in his most recent appearance, which will sideline him for at least three weeks. Arturs Silovs will move into the top goalie slot, with Sergei Murashov getting a promotion from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to back him up.

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