Leevi Merilainen has been one of the few bright spots in the Canucks crease, and it might be time to hand him the net for a while.
The numbers aren't close. Merilainen sits at a .941 save percentage, while Kevin Lankinen is at .786.
The Canucks are 2-3-0 after a 7-2 loss in Carolina on Thursday, the opener of a six-game road trip.
Lankinen has had a rough start. He allowed eight goals on 20 shots against Edmonton before giving way, and he's still searching for consistency.
The young Finn came in that night and stopped 10 of 11. He followed it with 23 saves on 24 shots in a 4-1 win over Calgary.
The 24-year-old carries a $1,100,000 cap hit. Lankinen, 31, is at $4,500,000, but the cap hit shouldn't decide who starts.
Manny Malhotra's crease decision could shape the Canucks road trip
Manny Malhotra has a long trip to manage. After Carolina, the Canucks visit New Jersey, both New York teams, Florida and Tampa Bay.
The front office talked about development over wins. Giving a 24-year-old goalie a real run fits that message perfectly.
Start Merilainen in New Jersey and keep starting him until he loses it. A rebuilding team learns more from riding a hot young goalie than from waiting on a veteran to find his game.
Benching the hot hand is like pulling a pitcher in the middle of a no-hitter because it's somebody else's turn in the rotation.
Paul Cotter and Elias Pettersson have carried the offence early. The Canucks just need saves to match.
Lankinen will get his chance to bounce back. For now, the goalie with the hot hand deserves the net, and Malhotra should give it to him.
Should Leevi Merilainen take over as the Canucks starter?
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