Alex Lyon: The Panthers’ Key to Victory
Alex Lyon has been on fire for the Florida Panthers, and the team could very well ride his momentum into the playoffs. The past four games have been nothing short of incredible for Lyon, who started the year as the Panthers third string goalie.
Lyon started his hot streak on the road in Toronto against the Leafs, winning 3-2 in an overtime clash, saving 38 of 40 shots for a .950 save percentage. Lyon followed up the performance the very next day for the Panthers on a back-to-back and defeated the Montreal Canadiens saving 18 of the 20 shots he faced. Lyon finished the road trip with his Blue Jackets in a statement 7-0 victory for the Panthers.
Lyon then returned home and claimed what was the most important victory of his career against the Buffalo Sabres in a 2-1 thriller. Lyon saved 39 of 40 shots he faced against the Sabres. Over the past four games, Lyon has averaged a .959 save percentage, a 1.26 goals against average, all to go with a perfect 4-0 record.
Early Career
Alex Lyon played his college hockey at Yale University. Lyon was presented with the Ken Dryden Award and received First-Team AHCA/CCM All-America, First-Team All-ECAC, First-Team All-New England as well as First-Team All-Ivy League honors all in his sophomore season. That year, Lyon was also the winner of the “J. Murray Murdoch Award” as Yale’s most valuable student-athlete.
The following season Lyon repeated as the Ken Dryden Award recipient and also landed spots on the All-ECAC First Team, the All-Ivy League First Team and the All-New England First Team. It is safe to say Alex Lyon left Yale as one of the most respected athletes in the school’s history.
Big Performances
Big performances in important games are nothing new to Lyon. In 2018, Lyon saved an insane 94 of 95 shots faced in a 146 minutes 48 seconds playoff win over the Charlotte Checkers. Lyon would remain on the Flyers, the team that drafted him, for multiple years until eventually moving onto the Carolina Hurricanes. Lyon appeared in 2 games last season for the Hurricanes for a record of 1-0-1, a 2.93 goals against average, and a .908 save percentage.
Florida Panthers
As a free agent from the Hurricanes, Lyon signed a one-year, two-way contract to join the Florida Panthers in 2022. Lyon is playing at an elite level and the Panthers need to ride his momentum as long as they can. It would be useful if the offense provides like they did for him in the resounding 7-0 victory in Columbus.
