NHL Playoffs: Top 5 Rookie Performances This Year

May 27, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie

(35) during the first period in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Dustin Tokarski– Montreal Canadiens 

I don’t know if there is a worse situation for a rookie goaltender to be thrown into than the one Dustin Tokarski was thrown into. Carey Price had just stollen a series away from Tuukka Rask and was riding high and preparing to face-off against the king of goaltending in Henrik Lundqvist. It was bound to be a tight series and a rematch from the gold medal game in Sochi. Tokarski, who had never laced up for a playoff game in the NHL and was arguably the third string goaltender, was tossed right into the crease and asked to be Carey Price. Obviously no other goaltender is Price, but Tokarski gave it his all for the Canadiens.

In his 5 games he went 2-3-1 posting an impressive 2.60 goals against average and .916 save percentage. He may not have been able to deliver the clutch wins as some of the other rookie goaltenders, but what he was asked to do is insane and he deserves props for that.