Goalies to Make Impacts So Far This Season

Some of the goalies in the NHL right now are starting to turn heads. Depth of goaltending has been on display for a better part of this season, especially for some back-up goalies stepping in while many elite net minders are having off-seasons or injury problems. In Monday's slate of games, there happens to be a number of goalies who are lesser-known but making a name for themselves. Let's take a look at some of the six goaltenders:

Cam Talbot (New York Rangers)
He was undrafted when he came into the league, but has the league-best save percentage as has given the Rangers a reason to win. Henrik Lundqvist has struggled early and he still continues to find his game. Talbot has six wins (all in a row) in seven starts and has two shutouts. Talbot started the last game, so there's a likely chance he'll start tonight. Will his hot start end Lundqvist's tenure in New York? Maybe and maybe not.

Ben Scrivens (Los Angeles Kings)
Scrivens was thrown in when Quick went out with an injury. He was acquired in the Jonathan Bernier trade and has seemed to outplay Quick. Scrivens has made nine consecutive starts, and has only given up 13 goals. The Kings are 5-1-3 in the span of games he has played.

Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens)
11-8-2 might not seem like the best record for this guy, but he is putting together what seems to be a career year. Price has been able to steady his game, unlike the past. He is likely to be Team Canada's best option in net come the Olympics. In the last seven games, he's only given up only one or two goals. His record would be better if the Canadiens could find a way to get some offense going.

Josh Harding (Minnesota Wild)
He may be your average backup. But Nicklas Backstrom got injured and hasn't been himself so far this season. Harding was then put in and took full advantage. His 13 wins are the seventh most in the league and his play has the Wild a point out of the playoff spot. At this rate, maybe he should be the starter the rest of the season.

Steve Mason (Philadelphia Flyers)
Who expected this? His impressive start was clouded by the Flyers' awful start and the firing of Peter Laviolette. He's really been a constant goalie sine Day 1. He's ranked 11th in GAA and eight in save percentage. They're not out of the playoff discussion because of how well Mason is playing.

Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils)
Schneider has split time with Martin Brodeur for goaltending duties. Brodeur is expected to start tonight, but Schneider has been consistently better than the future Hall of Famer. Schneider only has four wins, though, for those stellar rates. Schneider will eventually usurp Brodeur this season because of the way he plays and his stellar ratings and performance. Look for him to take over Brodeur in the long run. He might be the next Devils goaltender after Brodeur retires.

Four NHL games on tonight. Plenty of wins on the line. Enjoy your Monday night hockey, puck heads!