Anaheim’s Finnish keeper is under attack.
Ville Husso stopped Kris Letang’s scoring attempt last night. PDO
Ville Husso was the man of the match last night as Anaheim took a narrow 4-3 win over Pittsburgh. The Finn saved 44 shots, and he was chosen as the number one star of the match.
Pittsburgh created as many as 6.94 goals in the match, while Anaheim’s corresponding figure was 1.92. So Husso literally robbed the Ducks of victory.
It was the Finn’s fifth win of the season. The man has been able to start between the posts in only six games after the farm command at the beginning of the season.
Despite the handsome winning streak, the team has also had some weak nights in light of the statistics, as, for example, against Utah, Husso was replaced after the second period, when he had conceded four goals.
Husso got a spot on the screen in Anaheim’s goal at the end of November, when the team’s Czech coach Lukas Dostal and Petr Mrazek were injured. Dostal should be back in action in mid-December and Mrazek a little later.
If Husson’s recent top form continues, he may very well take Mrazek’s place as Anaheim’s second keeper. Then Husso would definitely be on the Finnish Olympic team.
Husson’s save percentage (89.3) is Juuse Saros (89.6%) is the second best of the Finnish goaltenders who played in the NHL this season. He is Finland’s number one in average goals conceded (2.83) and expected goals (+2.6).
Husso, 30, was once part of the U20 national team’s supporting forces at the World Cup level, together with Saros. Husso has only been seen at the World Championships for adults once: in the spring of 2018.
Husso has played 152 games in seven seasons in the NHL with a save percentage of 90.1. The average number of goals conceded is 3.04.
In addition to Anaheim, he has represented the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings.