Islanders Three Stars of the Weeks: Thomas Greiss Is A Wall

First Star: Thomas Greiss

Stats: 1.00GAA and 0.969SV%

We all expected a drop off in Thomas Greiss‘s numbers from last year. His 2.26GAA and 0.927SV% were phenomenal, but there was no way that could be sustained again. It’s not to say he’d all of a sudden become a bad goalie. But maybe he’d regress into regular mortal numbers, not there super-human numbers.

Nein! (See what I did there?)

Greiss is having an even better year than he did in 2018-19. In his eight games played this season, Greiss holds an average 1.88GAA and a 0.942SV%. Both of those numbers lead all goalies in the NHL. Including guys who may have only a single game under their belt.

Helping those numbers have been Greiss’s performance this week.

In two games played this week, Greiss has averaged a flat 1.00GAA and ridiculous 0.969SV%.

His best performance of the week came against the Florida Panthers where he stopped 37 of 38 shots for a 0.974SV%. Greiss was largely responsible for the Islanders coming away with a victory. The German goalkeeper was at his very best. Particularly on the penalty kill.

The Panthers had four opportunities on the power play in the game. Aleksander Barkov would eventually find a gap, but Greiss still stopped seven shots. Four of those shots coming in the second period where Greiss was at his absolute best.

Somehow, Greiss has found a way to be even better than he was last season. Chalk that up to increased familiarity with the system, the players, or what the coaching staff but whatever it is he’s been absolutely super-human for the Islanders.