Kaapo Kahkonen Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Penguins vs Canadiens game on tomorrow with our National Hockey League injury report.Dec 5, 2023
Exits ice first
Kahkonen was the first goalie to leave the ice Tuesday, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports, indicating he'll defend the cage on the road versus the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has secured victories in three of his last four outings while logging a .923 save percentage. The Sharks are currently the worst in the league in shots allowed per game (37.2), so fantasy players should probably expect Kahkonen to continue to see a lot of rubber. If he can limit the number of pucks that cross the goal line, Kahkonen should produce solid fantasy value given that high potential save volume.
Dec 2, 2023
Steals win in New Jersey
Kahkonen stopped 44 of 47 shots in Friday's 6-3 win over the Devils.
ANALYSIS
The Devils outshot the Sharks 47-18, but Kahkonen's strong play and a burst of offense from the San Jose offense helped the visitors pull off an improbable win. All three of Kahkonen's wins this season have come in his last four outings. He's now 3-6-0 with a 3.99 GAA and an .896 save percentage through 10 appearances. Mackenzie Blackwood continues to see the majority of playing time, but better work from Kahkonen could help him balance the workload eventually.
Dec 1, 2023
In goal Friday
Kahkonen will be between the pipes on the road against the Devils on Friday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has managed just two wins this season, posting a 2-6-0 record and a career-worst 4.12 GAA. With the 27-year-old backstop struggling, he shouldn't be expected to steal any starts away from Mackenzie Blackwood and will be hard-pressed to see significantly more than 25 starts.
Nov 26, 2023
Holds on for second win
Kahkonen stopped 30 of 33 shots in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Canucks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was dealt a humiliating loss in the Canucks' last trip to San Jose earlier in the month, but he was able to get his revenge this time. The 27-year-old never faced a deficit after a strong showing from the Sharks' top six. Kahkonen has earned both of his wins this season over his last three games, and it appears he's starting to work his way into a timeshare with Mackenzie Blackwood. Kahkonen is at 2-6-0 with a 4.12 GAA and an .889 save percentage, so it's still tough to justify rostering him in all but the deepest of fantasy formats.
Nov 25, 2023
Facing Canucks
Kahkonen will be in the home crease versus Vancouver on Saturday, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has struggled all season, going 1-6-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .887 save percentage. Kahkonen was pulled after the first period Wednesday as he gave up four goals on 17 shots in a 7-1 loss in Seattle. The Canucks lead the NHL in scoring, averaging 4.05 goals per game.
Nov 23, 2023
Unable to handle first-period blitz
Kahkonen stopped 13 of 17 shots in the first period of Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the Kraken.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was pulled at the start of the second period, and Mackenzie Blackwood wasn't much better, allowing three goals on 13 shots over the last 40 minutes. Kakhonen beat the Blues in his last outing, but behind the Sharks' unsteady defense, he'll continue to need heroic-level performances to keep things competitive. Kahkonen is at a 1-6-0 record with a 4.30 GAA and an .887 save percentage through eight games.
Nov 22, 2023
Guarding cage Wednesday
Kahkonen will patrol the crease on the road against Seattle on Wednesday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is coming off his first win of the season, stopping 44 of 45 shots against the Blues on Thursday. Overall, the 27-year-old netminder is sporting a 1-5-0 record and a career-worst 3.87 GAA. Unless he suddenly picks up his game, Kahkonen figures to remain the second-choice option behind Mackenzie Blackwood.
Nov 17, 2023
Strong in first win
Kahkonen allowed one goal on 45 shots in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Blues.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was excellent in his best outing of the season, which also earned him his first win thanks to some strong goal support. The 27-year-old improved to 1-5-0 with a 3.86 GAA and an .896 save percentage over seven appearances this season. Kahkonen will likely face lots of shots whenever he plays, so repeating a performance like the one he had Thursday will be difficult to do regularly. The Sharks' next game is Monday against the high-scoring Canucks.
Nov 16, 2023
Slated to start Thursday
Kahkonen is expected to start in Thursday's home game versus St. Louis.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen will continue to look for his first win of the season after starting the campaign with a 0-5-0 record, 4.44 GAA and .875 save percentage in six outings. He's been trending in the wrong direction, though, allowing 11 goals on 58 shots (.810 save percentage) over his last two contests. The Blues are tied for 21st offensively with 2.93 goals per game this campaign.
Nov 11, 2023
Allows five goals in loss
Kahkonen stopped 34 of 39 shots in Friday's 5-0 loss to the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen's quest for his first win of the season will continue, as the Golden Knights made easy work of the Sharks in this game. The 27-year-old has not played well so far, allowing three or more goals in each of his five starts this season while going 0-5-0. Mackenzie Blackwood has backstopped the Sharks to their only two wins so far, and he'll likely get the nod for Sunday's game in Anaheim.
Nov 10, 2023
Starting in Vegas
Kahkonen will patrol the visiting blue paint versus Vegas on Friday, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has yet to pick up a win this season, as he is 0-4-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .876 save percentage in five appearances. It doesn't get any easier Friday as the Sharks face the Golden Knights, who lead the Western Conference with an 11-2-1 record.
Nov 7, 2023
Suiting up Tuesday
Kahkonen (upper body) will suit up as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup against Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen sat out Saturday's 10-2 loss to Pittsburgh because of an upper-body issue. He has posted a mark of 0-4-0 this season with a 4.30 GAA and an .876 save percentage in five appearances. The Sharks returned netminder Magnus Chrona to AHL San Jose on Monday to make room for Kahkonen's return to the lineup.
Nov 4, 2023
Ruled out for Saturday
Kahkonen (upper body) won't be in the lineup Saturday against Pittsburgh, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen, who is considered day-to-day, took part in Saturday's optional morning skate. Magnus Chrona, who was called up from AHL San Jose on Friday, will serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup against the Penguins on Saturday.
Nov 3, 2023
Questionable Saturday
Kahkonen (upper body) is questionable for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was accidentally kneed by Vancouver's Andrei Kuzmenko during the Sharks' 10-1 loss to the Canucks on Thursday. Having allowed six goals on 19 shots, he was pulled from the game midway through the second period and briefly went to be checked, but was later seen on the bench, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports. However, Kahkonen might have been hurt worse than it initially appeared. If he's not available Saturday, then the Sharks will need to call up a goaltender, who will likely serve as the backup for Mackenzie Blackwood.
Nov 3, 2023
Rough night in loss
Kahkonen surrendered six goals on 19 shots in Thursday's 10-1 loss to the Canucks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen had no answer for the Canucks' power play in the first period. In the second, he was pulled after Andrei Kuzmenko scored, though Kahkonen also got ran over in the crease on the play. He was able to watch the rest of the game from the bench after he was checked out by the Sharks' medical staff, so there shouldn't be any immediate concerns about his availability. Kahkonen is 0-4-0 with 17 goals allowed over five appearances this season on a Sharks team that is playing at a historically bad level 10 games into the campaign.
Nov 2, 2023
Faces Canucks
Kahkonen will be between the home pipes versus Vancouver on Thursday, according to Max Miller of The Hockey News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is 0-3-0 in four appearances this season, giving up 11 goals on 118 shots. The Sharks are the worst offensive team in the NHL, scoring only nine times in nine games, including four in their last six contests. It doesn't look like an ideal spot to start Kahkonen.
Oct 28, 2023
Receives no help in shutout loss
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 40 shots in Friday's 3-0 shutout road loss against the Hurricanes.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was unable to solve Teuvo Teravainen, as the Carolina winger accounted for all three of the scores, including one on the power play. The Sharks offense was able to muster just 20 shots on net, and San Jose has now been blanked in seven consecutive periods. The Sharks are back in action Sunday in Washington.
Oct 27, 2023
Faces 10 shots in relief
Kahkonen -- who is expected to start against Carolina on Friday -- gave up one goal on 10 shots after coming on for Mackenzie Blackwood in the second period against Tampa Bay on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen didn't face a lot of shots but did play over 30 minutes of ice time but is still in line to get the start Friday as planned, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. The 27-year-old Kahkonen will be looking for his first win of the season after having lost his previous two appearances.
Oct 26, 2023
Set to start Friday
Kahkonen is expected to start on the road against Carolina on Friday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
It will be the second half of a back-to-back, and coach David Quinn plans to employ both of his goaltenders for it, using Mackenzie Blackwood for Thursday's road contest versus Tampa Bay before sending out Kahkonen on Friday. Kahkonen has a 0-2-0 record while stopping 61 of 68 shots (.897 save percentage) this season. The Hurricanes, who have averaged 3.86 goals per game in 2023-24, are set to face Seattle on Thursday, so Carolina will also be playing on no rest.
Oct 20, 2023
Gives up three goals in loss
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 36 shots in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Bruins.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost both of his starts so far, allowing seven goals on 68 shots overall. The Sharks have given him just two goals of support, and he hasn't been able to keep them in games. The 27-year-old is likely to continue to splitting the crease with Mackenzie Blackwood, who was in net for the only game in which the Sharks have earned a point this year. They begin a road trip Saturday in Nashville.
Oct 18, 2023
Slated to face Bruins
Kahkonen is expected to guard the home net Thursday versus Boston, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen will attempt to bounce back after surrendering four goals on 32 shots in a 4-1 loss to Vegas on Oct. 12. He had a 9-20-7 record, 3.85 GAA and .883 save percentage in 37 outings last year. Kahkonen has faced Boston just once before in his career, stopping 36 of 38 shots in a 3-2 victory over the Bruins on Jan. 6, 2022.
Oct 13, 2023
Yields four goals
Kahkonen gave up four goals on 32 shots in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
Vegas didn't dominate the game by any means, but Kahkonen still gave up at least one goal in each period. The 27-year-old is expected to split the goaltending duties with Mackenzie Blackwood early in 2023-24. Kahkonen had an awful 9-20-7 record with a 3.85 GAA and an .883 save percentage in 37 games last season, so there's no guarantee he'll be able to take hold of the No. 1 job for a Sharks team that is expected to be among the worst in the league.
Oct 11, 2023
Will face Golden Knights
Kahkonen is set to guard the home crease Thursday against Vegas, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen finished the 2022-23 campaign with a 9-20-7 record, 3.85 GAA and .883 save percentage in 37 outings. Vegas will be looking to improve to 2-0-0 after earning a 4-1 victory over Seattle on Tuesday.
Apr 12, 2023
Kept busy in loss
Kahkonen stopped 46 of 48 shots in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Flames. The third goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was very busy between the pipes as the Flames stayed true to their high-volume shooting tendencies. While it was a third straight loss for Kahkonen, he played well. The 26-year-old goalie is down to 9-20-7 with a 3.85 GAA and an .883 save percentage through 37 games, which is likely where he'll finish the season assuming he doesn't start Thursday in Edmonton.
Apr 12, 2023
Starting in Calgary
Kahkonen will guard the road goal versus the Flames on Wednesday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen struggled in his last start Thursday against the Avalanche, surrendering four goals on just 19 shots before being replaced by James Reimer in the second period of the eventual 6-2 loss. He'll try to snap his personal two-game losing streak in a road matchup with a Calgary team that's averaging 3.10 goals per game at home this year, 20th in the NHL.
Apr 6, 2023
Pulled from Thursday's loss
Kahkonen yielded four goals on 19 shots in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen didn't quite make it halfway through the game -- he was pulled after Mikko Rantanen completed a hat trick 8:06 into the second period. It's been a rough close to the campaign for Kahkonen, who has allowed at least four goals in eight of his line nine games. He's down to 9-19-7 with a 3.90 GAA and an .879 save percentage through 36 appearances this season. Another tough matchup is on the horizon for the Sharks' home finale Saturday versus the Oilers.
Apr 5, 2023
Set to start Thursday
Kahkonen is expected to start Thursday at home against Colorado, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has a 9-18-7 record, 3.83 GAA and .881 save percentage in 35 contests this season. Those aren't great numbers, but he's done worse lately, posting a 4.95 GAA and an .861 save percentage over his last eight outings. The Avalanche have the 13th-ranked offense with 3.29 goals per game in 2022-23.
Apr 4, 2023
Solid in overtime loss
Kahkonen stopped 38 of 42 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen put in a solid effort, which allowed the Sharks to make a comeback push to force overtime. The defense broke in the extra session, with a turnover turning into Nathan MacKinnon's game-winning goal on a breakaway. Kahkonen has just three wins in 15 games since the All-Star break. He's at 9-18-7 with a 3.83 GAA and an .881 save percentage through 35 appearances. The Sharks' next game is also against the Avalanche on Thursday -- neither Kahkonen nor James Reimer would be a good fantasy option for that one.
Apr 3, 2023
Guarding cage Tuesday
Kahkonen will patrol the crease at home versus the Avs on Tuesday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen finally ended a 10-game losing streak with his victory against the Coyotes on Saturday. If the Finnish backstop can get just one more win, he will put himself over the 10-win mark for the third straight season, though he will be hard-pressed to reach his 2021-22 total (14).
Apr 1, 2023
Makes 29 saves in win
Kahkonen turned aside 29 of 31 shots in a 7-2 win over Arizona on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen entered the contest on a personal 10-game losing streak in which he posted a 4.35 GAA and an .875 save percentage. Saturday's performance was his best in recent memory, though as it turned out, the goaltender would probably have won even if he struggled, thanks to the offensive support San Jose supplied. Kahkonen is 9-18-6 with a 3.83 GAA and an .880 save percentage in 34 appearances this season.
Apr 1, 2023
Starting Saturday
Kahkonen will defend the visiting crease in Arizona on Saturday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is having trouble getting back in the win column as he is 0-8-2 since his last win Feb. 12. Overall, Kahkonen is 8-18-6 with a 3.89 GAA and .878 save percentage this season. He will face the Coyotes, who are 27th in NHL scoring, averaging 2.76 goals per contest.
Mar 25, 2023
Winless in 10 straight starts
Kahkonen surrendered four goals on 29 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Flames on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
It was a close contest -- the score was 3-3 until the 5:45 mark of the third when Nazem Kadri notched his 23rd of the season. Kahkonen continues to search for his ninth win this season. His last win came Feb. 12, and since then, he has gone 0-8-2 in 10 starts. Kahkonen has allowed four or more goals in his last six starts (31 allowed).
Mar 24, 2023
Set to start Saturday
Kahkonen is expected to start on the road against Calgary on Saturday, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost his last nine appearances while posting a 4.39 GAA and an .876 save percentage in that span. Overall in 2022-23, he has an 8-17-6 record, 3.88 GAA and .879 save percentage through 32 contests. The Flames have dropped three of their last four games, bringing their record down to 32-26-15.
Mar 18, 2023
Skid reaches nine games
Kahkonen surrendered four goals on 33 shots in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost nine outings in a row, going 0-7-2 with a 4.39 GAA and an .876 save percentage in that stretch. The poor run of play has pushed his season-long numbers to a 3.88 GAA and an .879 save percentage with an 8-17-6 record across 32 contests. Kahkonen's inability to steal a game makes him a non-factor in most fantasy formats to close out the campaign.
Mar 18, 2023
Expected to start Saturday
Kahkonen will guard the home goal versus the Islanders on Saturday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen and James Reimer have started to alternate games, and this is Kahkonen's turn in the rotation. The 26-year-old Kahkonen has posted a 0-6-2, a 4.44 GAA and an .876 save percentage over his last eight outings, so he's not a safe fantasy option in any matchup.
Mar 14, 2023
Can't snap skid
Kahkonen stopped 42 of 48 shots in Tuesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen enjoyed a lead for all of 4:27 in the first period, with the Sharks playing even or behind the rest of the game. He's now 0-6-2 with 33 goals allowed over his last eight contests. The brutal slump has dropped Kahkonen to 8-16-6 with a 3.88 GAA and an .879 save percentage through 31 starts. The Sharks have a tougher test next, hosting the Kraken on Thursday -- James Reimer shut out Seattle on Feb. 20, so he could be a better option to start the upcoming contest.
Mar 14, 2023
Defending cage against Jackets
Kahkonen will patrol the crease versus Columbus at home Tuesday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has suffered seven consecutive defeats in which he posted a 0-6-1 record, 4.25 GAA and .876 save percentage. A matchup with the NHL's worst team could help the netminder break out of his slump. If Kahkonen can secure just two more victories, he will get over the 10-win mark for the third straight season.
Mar 9, 2023
Woes continue Thursday
Kahkonen stopped 26 of 30 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Blues on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen surrendered at least a goal in each period, including two markers on 12 shots in the third frame. He dropped to 8-16-5 with a 3.82 GAA and an .879 save percentage in 30 contests this season. Kahkonen has lost each of his last seven outings and has allowed 17 goals on 84 shots over his last three games.
Mar 9, 2023
Starting in St. Louis
Kahkonen will get the visiting crease versus St. Louis on Thursday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost six straight, going 0-5-1. He has pulled Tuesday in Colorado after he gave up five goals on 24 shots. Kahkonen is 8-15-5 with a 3.81 GAA and .879 save percentage this season. He will try to get back on track versus the Blues, who are 21st in NHL scoring, averaging 3.02 goals per game.
Mar 7, 2023
In deep slump
Kahkonen stopped 19 of 24 shots in Tuesday's 6-0 loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was replaced by James Reimer early in the second period. This brutal outing extended Kahkonen's losing streak to six games (0-5-1), a span in which he's allowed 23 tallies on 188 shots. The 26-year-old had grabbed a starting role for much of February, but he's losing hold of it now. He's at 8-15-5 with a 3.81 GAA and an .879 save percentage through 29 starts this season. The Sharks' next game is Thursday in St. Louis, and they haven't named a starting goalie for that contest yet.
Mar 7, 2023
Starting in Colorado
Kahkonen will guard the road goal Tuesday against Colorado, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen, who has gone winless in his past five outings, surrendered eight goals on 30 shots in Saturday's 8-3 loss to Washington. He has a record of 8-14-5 this season with a 3.68 GAA and an .882 save percentage. Kahkonen will get the second half of San Jose's back-to-back after James Reimer played in Monday's 3-2 overtime win over Winnipeg. The Avalanche rank 16th in the league this campaign with 3.13 goals per game.
Mar 4, 2023
Eight goals sneak past
Kahkonen made 22 saves in an 8-3 loss to Washington on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
His teammates actually put the Sharks up 2-0 after one period and played well into the second. But the Caps woke up after their sleepy first and scored five unanswered goals. Kahkonen is 0-4-1 in his last five starts and hasn't won since Feb. 12.
Mar 4, 2023
Tending twine Saturday
Kahkonen will get the nod for Saturday's home matchup with Washington, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen gave up two goals on 31 shots in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Montreal in his last outing. He has a record of 8-13-5 this season with a 3.51 GAA and an .887 save percentage. The Capitals rank 22nd in the league this year with 3.02 goals per game.
Feb 28, 2023
Unsteady in third period
Kahkonen allowed two goals on 31 shots in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Canadiens.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was sharp over the first two periods, but the Canadiens' pair of goals in a span of 1:52 during the third period flipped the game around. This was Kahkonen's fifth loss in his last six outings, though he hasn't allowed more than three goals in any of those games. He's now at 8-13-5 with a 3.51 GAA and an .887 save percentage through 27 appearances. If James Reimer gets dealt before Friday's trade deadline, Kahkonen would likely take the reins as the Sharks' unquestioned No. 1 netminder, though he's already pushing for the role if things stay status quo.
Feb 27, 2023
Taking on Canadiens
Kahkonen will guard the home goal during Monday's matchup with Montreal, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was solid in his last start Saturday against Chicago, stopping 32 of 35 shots, but he still came away with a loss due to insufficient goal support from his teammates. He'll try to snap his personal three-game losing streak in a home matchup with a Canadiens team that's 11-15-3 on the road this year.
Feb 25, 2023
Takes shootout loss Saturday
Kahkonen stopped 32 of 35 shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen never had a lead to protect in the contest, as the Blackhawks thrice went up by a goal, only to give it back. They also had the only tally in the shootout, sending Kahkonen to his third straight defeat (0-2-1). The 26-year-old netminder is now at 8-12-5 with a 3.57 GAA and an .885 save percentage through 26 starts this season. He's been sharing the crease pretty evenly with James Reimer lately, though neither goalie should be expected to impress over the rest of the season. The Sharks' next matchup is a fairly favorable one Tuesday versus the Canadiens.
Feb 25, 2023
Tending twine Saturday
Kahkonen will get the home crease versus Chicago on Saturday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost his last two starts despite giving up only five goals on 68 shots. He will try to get back in the win column, taking on the lowly Blackhawks, who are 30th in the NHL standings, two points in arrears of the Sharks. Kahkonen is 8-12-4 with a 3.60 GAA and .884 save percentage this season.
Feb 18, 2023
Takes another loss
Kahkonen surrendered three goals on 30 shots in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Sabres. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost three of his last four starts, though it's fair to say he hasn't played poorly in that span. His defense didn't do him a ton of favors Saturday -- the Sabres were stronger and faster on the puck on two of their three goals against the Finnish netminder. Kahkonen slipped to 8-12-4 with a 3.60 GAA and an .884 save percentage through 25 appearances. James Reimer (illness) was healthy enough to back up Saturday, and he may get the next start Monday versus the Kraken.
Feb 18, 2023
Facing Sabres
Kahkonen will get the home crease versus Buffalo on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
This will be Kahkonen's sixth start in the last seven games, as he is 3-2-0, giving up 12 goals on 169 shots. Overall, Kahkonen is 8-11-4 with a 3.62 GAA and .883 save percentage. He takes on the high-scoring Sabres, who are averaging 3.70 goals per game, second best in the NHL.
Feb 16, 2023
Loses close game late
Kahkonen allowed two goals on 38 shots in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was sharp, which included killing off seven Vegas power plays throughout the game. His strong play was for naught in the end, as Paul Cotter and William Carrier tallied in the third period to lift the Golden Knights to a narrow win. Kahkonen has won two of four games since the All-Star break, and he continues to function as the Sharks' top goalie while James Reimer (illness) is out. Kahkonen has an 8-11-4 record with a 3.62 GAA and an .883 save percentage through 24 starts this season. The Sharks face another tough opponent when they host the Sabres on Saturday.
Feb 16, 2023
Returns to action Thursday
Kahkonen (concussion) will defend the road crease versus Vegas on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen missed one game with the concussion. He has won three of his last four games, giving him an 8-10-4 record with a 3.69 GAA and .880 save percentage. He will face the Golden Knights, who are 15th in NHL scoring, averaging 3.22 goals per game.
Feb 14, 2023
Not available after all
Kahkonen (concussion) won't play Tuesday versus the Penguins, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Aaron Dell will start and Eetu Makiniemi will be his backup for this game. Kahkonen is getting closer to a return after exiting Sunday's game versus the Capitals, but he'll have to miss at least one contest. Per Pashelka, Kahkonen has entered concussion protocol.
Feb 14, 2023
Suiting up Tuesday
Kahkonen (undisclosed) will dress as the backup goalie behind starter Aaron Dell on Tuesday against Pittsburgh, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was forced to leave Sunday's 4-1 win over Washington in the second period following a collision with Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. If James Reimer (illness) isn't available, Kahkonen could return to the crease Thursday versus Vegas.
Feb 12, 2023
Leaves Sunday's game
Kahkonen (undisclosed) will not return to Sunday's game against Washington.
ANALYSIS
It's believed that Kahkonen was removed from the game by a concussion spotter but there's been no official word on his injury yet. The 26-year-old stopped 12 of 13 shots before exiting the game. He was replaced by Aaron Dell.
Feb 12, 2023
Starting in Washington
Kahkonen will guard the road goal Sunday against Washington, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen, who has won two of his past three outings, stopped 38 of 40 shots in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Panthers. He has a 7-10-4 record this season with a 3.75 GAA and an .879 save percentage in 22 appearances. The Capitals sit 18th in the league with 3.09 goals per game this campaign.
Feb 9, 2023
Excellent in loss
Kahkonen made 38 saves in a 4-1 loss to Florida on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
The game was far closer than the score indicates. Kahkonen was excellent, allowing two goals to Sam Reinhart in the second period and nothing more. The other two were empty netters. The loss snapped Kahkonen's modest two-game winning streak.
Feb 9, 2023
Tending twine Thursday
Kahkonen will defend the visiting crease versus Florida on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
This will be Kahkonen's third straight start as he has won his last two contests. Kahkonen is 7-9-4 with a 3.83 GAA and .874 save percentage this season. He will take on the Panthers, who scored seven times Monday and are seventh in NHL scoring, averaging 3.47 goals per game.
Feb 7, 2023
Rallies for OT win
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 37 shots in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Lightning.
ANALYSIS
It looked like Kahkonen would be in for a short night after allowing three goals in the first period. However, the Finish netminder responded by blanking Tampa Bay over the final two frames while the Sharks rallied to tie the game in the third before winning in overtime. Kahkonen has won back-to-back starts for the first time this season, stopping 73 of 78 shots in that span. He improves to 7-9-4 on the season with a .874 save percentage.
Feb 7, 2023
Starting in Tampa Bay
Kahkonen will guard the road goal Tuesday against Tampa Bay, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen made 37 saves in a 6-4 win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 28 prior to the All-Star break. He has a 6-9-4 record this season with a 3.89 GAA and an .871 save percentage. The Lightning rank fifth in the league this campaign with 3.57 goals per game.
Jan 28, 2023
Gets win despite allowing four
Kahkonen made 37 saves in a 6-4 win over the Penguins on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Evgeni Malkin scored twice and Sidney Crosby and Ryan Poehling each had a goal. Three of those goals came on special teams -- two power play and one shortie. Kahkonen is 3-4-2 in his last 10 starts and unfortunately, he has allowed four or more goals in eight of them. Saturday was the only time in those eight that he got more support from the Sharks than the number of goals allowed. Kahkonen needs to clean up his game in order to be a solid fantasy citizen.
Jan 28, 2023
Starting in Pittsburgh
Kahkonen will defend the visiting crease in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
It has been a tough season for Kahkonen who is 5-9-4 with a 3.88 GAA and a terrible .869 save percentage. Kahkonen has given up 11 goals on 69 shots during the last two games. He will face the Penguins, who are 17th in NHL scoring, averaging 3.04 goals per game.
Jan 21, 2023
Another night, another loss
Kahkonen made 24 saves in a 5-3 loss Columbus on Saturday. He allowed four goals.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has allowed 11 goals in his last two games, both losses. Overall, the 26-year-old is 5-9-4 with a 3.88 GAA and .869 save percentage. Put simply, there are better options.
Jan 21, 2023
Starting Saturday
Kahkonen will guard the road net Saturday against the Blue Jackets, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is 2-1-2 with a .864 save percentage over his last five starts. The 26-year-old netminder will look to get back on track against a Blue Jackets team that averages 2.5 goals per game, the third-worst rate in the league. Kahkonen is 5-8-4 with a .870 save percentage this season.
Jan 13, 2023
Can't stop Oilers
Kahkonen gave up seven goals on 41 shots in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Oilers.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was no match for the Oilers, allowing three points each to Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the brutal loss. The seven goals allowed matched a season high for Kahkonen, who has generally been the better of the Sharks' goalies lately compared to the slumping James Reimer. For the season, Kahkonen is down to 5-8-4 with a 3.87 GAA and an .870 save percentage -- fantasy managers may want to avoid San Jose's goaltending altogether, especially with tough matchups versus the Devils and Stars upcoming.
Jan 13, 2023
Expected to start Friday
Kahkonen is expected to start at home against Edmonton on Friday, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has posted a 2-0-1 record, 2.98 GAA and .887 save percentage over his last three starts. That's not great, but it still compares favorably to his 5-7-4 record, 3.68 GAA and .873 save percentage in 17 contests this season. Edmonton has the fifth-ranked offense with 3.56 goals per game.
Jan 10, 2023
Picks up win over Coyotes
Kahkonen stopped 26 of 28 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Coyotes.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen gave up both goals in the first period, but he settled down and the Sharks helped him get the win, his second in his last three outings. He's started to chip away at James Reimer's playing time -- Kahkonen has started four of the last six games, though neither of the Sharks' goalies are performing all that well. The 26-year-old Finn has a 5-7-4 record with a 3.68 GAA and an .873 save percentage through 17 appearances. Expect Reimer to get the nod Wednesday versus the Kings.
Jan 10, 2023
Tending twine Tuesday
Kahkonen will defend the road net Tuesday against Arizona, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen surrendered five goals on 29 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss to Anaheim last Friday. He has a 4-7-4 record this season with a 3.79 GAA and an .869 save percentage. The Coyotes rank 28th in the league this year with 2.74 goals per game.
Jan 6, 2023
Leaks five goals in OT loss
Kahkonen stopped 24 of 29 shots in Friday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost four of his last six appearances, allowing at least four goals in five of those outings. The 26-year-old couldn't protect three separate leads Friday, and John Klingberg completed the Ducks' comeback in overtime. Kahkonen dropped to 4-7-4 with a 3.79 GAA and an .869 save percentage through 16 starts -- his save percentage is third-lowest among goalies with at least 10 appearances. Look for James Reimer to get a tough start Saturday at home versus the Bruins.
Jan 5, 2023
Expected in net vs. Anaheim
Kahkonen is expected to guard the road net against Anaheim on Friday, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has a 4-7-3 record, 3.71 GAA and .872 save percentage in 15 contests this season. He stopped 20 of 22 shots in a 5-2 win against Chicago on Sunday. The Ducks have the 31st-ranked offense with 2.23 goals per game. With Kahkonen slated to start Friday, James Reimer might play between the pipes at home against Boston on Saturday.
Jan 1, 2023
Snaps slump Sunday
Kahkonen allowed two goals on 22 shots in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen gave up a pair of goals in the second period, but the Sharks responded with five unanswered tallies. The 26-year-old netminder didn't earn a win in any of his four appearances in December -- his last victory prior to Sunday was Nov. 29 in Montreal. He's now at 4-7-3 with a 3.71 GAA and an .872 save percentage through 15 outings. The Sharks are off until another back-to-back set Friday in Anaheim and Saturday at home versus Boston.
Jan 1, 2023
Starting in Chicago
Kahkonen will guard the road goal Sunday against Chicago, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen made 22 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Thursday. He has a 3-7-3 record this season with a 3.83 GAA and an .870 save percentage in 14 appearances. Kahkonen will get the second half of San Jose's back-to-back after James Reimer played in Saturday's loss to Dallas. Chicago ranks 32nd in the NHL with 2.20 goals per game this season.
Dec 29, 2022
Can't protect lead in overtime loss
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 26 shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
It's not a great look for Kahkonen to give up another multi-goal lead en route to a loss. The Flyers rallied from two goals down in the third period to tie the game, and Tony DeAngelo completed the comeback 1:10 into overtime. Kahkonen has given up 18 goals over his last four appearances, and he hasn't earned a win since Nov. 29. The Finn is at 3-7-3 with a 3.83 GAA and an .870 save percentage in 14 starts. Playing behind the Sharks' shoddy defense doesn't help his cause much, but Kahkonen's numbers make him an option only in the deepest of fantasy formats. He should see some more time soon since the Sharks' next four games are contained in a pair of back-to-back sets.
Dec 28, 2022
Facing Flyers
Kahkonen will start in goal in Thursday's home game versus Philadelphia, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen struggled in his last start Dec. 18 against the Flames, surrendering five goals on just 25 shots en route to a 5-2 loss. He'll try to pick up his first win in two months in an appealing home matchup with a Flyers team that's averaging only 2.50 goals per game on the road this year, 28th in the NHL.
Dec 18, 2022
Crumbles in third period
Kahkonen allowed five goals on 25 shots in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Flames.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen had a solid game going through two periods, but the Flames tagged him for three goals in the first first 2:10 of the final frame. His last win came Nov. 29, and he's now allowed 14 goals in three appearances in December. For the season, the 26-year-old is at 3-7-2 with a 3.82 GAA and an .872 save percentage in 13 games -- those numbers won't allow him to mount much of a challenge to James Reimer's starting role.
Dec 15, 2022
Starting Sunday
Kahkonen will get the home start against Calgary on Sunday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen will return to the crease after sitting the previous three games. His last appearance was a bad one, giving up four goals on 19 shots against the Canucks and was pulled after two periods. Kahkonen is 3-6-2 with a 3.71 GAA and an .877 save percentage this season. He will face the Flames, who are currently on a four-game losing streak, having lost in a shootout to Vancouver on Wednesday.
Dec 7, 2022
Pulled after two periods
Kahkonen surrendered four goals on 19 shots in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Canucks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen wasn't great through two periods -- so much so that head coach Dave Quinn opted to give Eetu Makiniemi his NHL debut in a relief appearance. The Sharks covered Kahkonen's damage in the third period, taking him out of the decision, so he remains at 3-6-2 through 12 contests. He's still allowed four or more goals in four of his last five outings, the lone exception being a shutout win over the Canadiens on Nov. 29. Kahkonen is at a 3.71 GAA and an .877 save percentage this season. James Reimer (lower body) could be back as soon as Friday, which would likely relegate Kahkonen to the backup role.
Dec 6, 2022
Starting Wednesday
Kahkonen will start Wednesday's home game against Vancouver, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is coming off a 34-save effort in last Saturday's 5-2 loss to Ottawa. He has a 3-6-2 record this season with a 3.57 GAA and an .882 save percentage. Kahkonen gave up four goals on 20 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Canucks on Nov. 27.
Dec 3, 2022
Another game with too many goals
Kahkonen made 34 saves in a 5-2 loss to the Senators on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
It was a bit of a crash back to earth after his first-career shutout over Montreal earlier this week. The Sens scored four unanswered goals in the second and third periods to secure the win. Kahkonen allowed three power-play goals Saturday. He has given up 16 goals in his last four games, including that shutout. Gulp.
Dec 2, 2022
Starting in Ottawa
Kahkonen will guard the road crease against Ottawa on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen gets the start as James Reimer (lower body) has been ruled out for the weekend games. Kahkonen shut out the Canadiens on Tuesday for his first whitewash of the season. He is 3-5-2 with a 3.43 GAA and an .884 save percentage. He will face the Senators, who are in last place in the Atlantic Division with an 8-13-1 mark.
Nov 30, 2022
Blanks Habs for first shutout
Kahkonen made 28 saves in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Canadiens.
ANALYSIS
After coughing up 11 goals over his prior two starts, the 26-year-old netminder turned things around in impressive fashion in his first shutout of the season, denying a couple Montreal rushes in the first period and closing the door during a 5-on-3 Habs power play in the third until the Sharks could finally break open a 1-0 game. Kahkonen will hold down the crease for San Jose while James Reimer (lower body) is on the shelf, but he'll need to be more consistent if he wants to push for the top job on a more permanent basis.
Nov 29, 2022
Starting in Montreal
Kahkonen will guard the road net Tuesday versus Montreal, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost his past two outings, allowing 11 goals on 46 shots. He has a 2-5-1 record this season with a 3.81 GAA and an .871 save percentage. Coach David Quinn said Tuesday that Aaron Dell will "probably" play Wednesday versus Toronto in the second half of San Jose's back-to-back.
Nov 27, 2022
Another poor outing
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 20 shots in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canucks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has given up 11 goals on 46 shots over his last two starts. He held his own early in this one, but he had trouble in the third period and Andrei Kuzmenko tallied 1:12 into overtime for the Canucks' win. Kahkonen slipped to 2-5-2 on the year with a 3.81 GAA and an .871 save percentage in nine outings. James Reimer is dealing with a nagging lower-body injury, so Kahkonen could be in line for a bit more playing time despite the poor results of late. The Sharks begin a road trip in Montreal on Tuesday.
Nov 27, 2022
Starting Sunday
Kahkonen will defend the home net Sunday against Vancouver, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was rocked for seven goals on 26 shots in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to Seattle during his last appearance. He has a 2-5-1 record this season with a 3.80 GAA and an .877 save percentage. James Reimer (lower body) won't be in the lineup, so Aaron Dell will dress as the backup goalie.
Nov 23, 2022
Awful in Seattle
Kahkonen allowed seven goals on 26 shots in Wednesday's 8-5 loss to the Kraken. The eighth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen looked good in his last start, but the Kraken wiped that memory away quickly. They beat him three times in each of the second and third periods to storm away with the win. Kahkonen is down to 2-5-1 with a 3.80 GAA and an .877 save percentage in eight appearances. He's in line for a starting role as long as James Reimer (lower body) is out, though Reimer's injury is expected to be a short-term situation.
Nov 23, 2022
Tending twine Wednesday
Kahkonen will patrol the road crease Wednesday against Seattle, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is coming off a 37-save performance in Monday's 5-1 win over Ottawa. As a result, there's a good chance he would've started Wednesday even if James Reimer (lower body) wasn't injured. Kahkonen has a 2-4-1 record this season with a 3.31 GAA and an .894 save percentage. Aaron Dell will serve as the backup goalie.
Nov 21, 2022
Shines in win Monday
Kahkonen stopped 37 of 38 shots in Monday's 5-1 win over the Senators.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen didn't play in the last five games, as James Reimer has seen a longer run as the starter. Kahkonen may have earned himself a larger share of playing time with a strong start Monday, limiting the Senators to a lone tally by Tim Stutzle. The victory put Kahkonen at 2-4-1 with a 3.31 GAA and an .894 save percentage in seven appearances. The Sharks' next game is in Seattle on Wednesday, and the team has not named a starting goalie yet.
Nov 21, 2022
Facing Ottawa on Monday
Kahkonen will guard the home net Monday against Ottawa, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has lost his past two outings (0-1-1), allowing nine goals on 76 shots. He has a 1-4-1 record this season with a 3.70 GAA and an .878 save percentage. This will be Kahkonen's first career contest versus the Senators.
Nov 10, 2022
Surrenders four goals vs. Blues
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 32 shots in Thursday's 5-3 loss to St. Louis.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen dropped to 1-4-1 with a 3.70 GAA and .878 save percentage in six contests this season. The Blues have been struggling offensively this season, so it's particularly disappointing that he couldn't take advantage. James Reimer is the Sharks' No. 1 goaltender and Kahkonen might find that he's used increasingly sparingly unless he can start to turn things around.
Nov 9, 2022
Will be in net Thursday
Kahkonen will start on the road against St. Louis on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has a 1-3-1 record, 3.62 GAA and .878 save percentage in five starts this season. He's surrendered eight goals in his last two starts alone. The Blues have been struggling offensively though, averaging just 2.09 goals per game this season, so this could be a solid start for Kahkonen. The Blues' tentative plan is to then start James Reimer on the road against Dallas on Friday.
Nov 1, 2022
Kept busy in shootout loss
Kahkonen surrendered five goals on 44 shots in Tuesday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
This was the second time in five starts that Kahkonen has given up five goals. He fell to a 1-3-1 record with 18 goals allowed, and he's posted a save percentage under .900 in four of his five games. The Finn isn't making much of a case to take starts away from James Reimer, who still holds a slight edge in playing time as the Sharks' top goalie.
Oct 31, 2022
Starting Tuesday
Kahkonen will start Tuesday's home game against Anaheim, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen earned his first win in four starts this season last Thursday against Toronto in a 4-3 overtime victory. He has permitted 13 goals on 104 shots so far in 2022-23. Kahkonen has a 5-1-0 record with a 2.27 GAA and a .919 save percentage in seven career contests versus the Ducks.
Oct 27, 2022
Secures overtime win
Kahkonen stopped 22 of 25 shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen gave up a goal in each period in regulation, but Erik Karlsson gave the Sharks the win in overtime. This was Kahkonen's first win of the season -- he'd lost his first three appearances, and he's mainly been outplayed by James Reimer. Through four starts, Kahkonen has surrendered 13 goals on 104 shots. He'll need to be sharper if he's going to push for something closer to a 50-50 split of the playing time.
Oct 26, 2022
Facing Toronto Thursday
Kahkonen will be between the pipes Thursday against Toronto, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen played well in last Saturday's 2-1 loss to New Jersey, stopping 34 of 36 shots, but he is still looking for his first win of the 2022-23 campaign. He has a 0-3-0 record so far this season.
Oct 22, 2022
Tough loss in Jersey
Kahkonen turned aside 34 shots in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Devils.
ANALYSIS
Making his third start of the year, Kahkonen put together his best performance so far but got little help from his offense as the Sharks were out-shot 36-22. After going 2-6-1 last season following a trade from the Wild, the 26-year-old netminder is 0-3-0 to begin the current campaign.
Oct 22, 2022
Starting on Saturday
Kahkonen will defend the road goal against New Jersey on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is off to a slow start, going 0-2-0, and has given up eight goals on 43 shots as the Sharks are off to a 0-5-1 start. The Finnish netminder will face the Devils who have won two straight games and have scored eight of their 12 goals in the victories.
Oct 15, 2022
Takes loss Saturday
Kahkonen allowed five goals on 25 shots in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen started off fine with a clean first period, but the Sharks' defense crumbled in the second, allowing two shorthanded goals. It didn't get better in the third, leaving Kahkonen with his second loss in as many outings. The 26-year-old has given up eight goals on 43 shots in those games, and it's apparent the Sharks are not likely to be very competitive, making him a risky fantasy option. For now, he should be expected to split starts with James Reimer.
Oct 15, 2022
Between pipes Saturday
Kahkonen will be in the home crease for the Sharks on Saturday when they host the Blackhawks, according to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen picked up the loss for Sharks in Prague a week ago, giving up three goals on only 18 shots. Coach David Quinn is hoping that either Kahkonen or James Reimer gets hot and takes over as the No. 1 netminder but until that happens, look for the duo to split the games. Kahkonen will face a weak Chicago side that has scored only two goals in two games this season.
Oct 8, 2022
To start Saturday
Kahkonen will be in the home net for the Sharks Saturday as they face the Predators in Prague according to Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
ANALYSIS
No surprise here as this the second-half of back-to-back games. Kahkonen was 14-14-4 last season with a 2.87 GAA and a .912 save percentage split between the Sharks and the Wild.
Jul 18, 2022
Inks two-year deal
Kahkonen signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Sharks on Monday, PuckPedia reports.
ANALYSIS
The Finnish netminder got plenty of NHL action last season, posting a .912 save percentage and 2.87 GAA across 36 appearances with Minnesota and San Jose. Kahkonen has flashed moments of brilliance over the last couple campaigns, but he's currently entangled in the Sharks' goalie ranks with presumptive No. 1 James Reimer and Adin Hill (lower body), which makes his fantasy situation tough to forecast heading into 2022-23 -- especially
Apr 29, 2022
On wrong end of shutout
Kahkonen stopped 28 of 30 shots in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Kraken. The third goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen received no support as the Sharks' offense didn't show up for the season finale. The 25-year-old didn't take much of a step forward in his second full NHL campaign. He ended the season at 14-14-4 with a 2.87 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 36 appearances between the Sharks and the Wild. The Finn is set for restricted free agency this summer, and he may have to settle for a two-way contract with James Reimer and Adin Hill (lower body) both locked in for next season.
Apr 29, 2022
Starting in Seattle
Kahkonen will start Friday on the road against the Kraken, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Just 2-5-1 since coming over in trade from the Wild, Kahkonen will look for his third win as a Shark in the final game of the season. Opposing Seattle's struggles have been well documented in its inaugural campaign, with its 2.59 average goals for sitting second-last in the Western Conference (only ahead of Arizona's 2.48 mark).
Apr 26, 2022
No luck against Ducks
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 30 shots in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Ducks. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen had won his last two starts, but his strong run ended Tuesday. The 25-year-old is now at 14-13-4 with a 2.89 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 35 appearances between the Sharks and the Wild. The Sharks finish the season with a road back-to-back in Edmonton on Thursday and Seattle on Friday, so Kahkonen and James Reimer will likely each start one more game.
Apr 26, 2022
Facing Ducks on Tuesday
Kahkonen will start Tuesday against visiting Anaheim, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has played pretty well with his new team, turning in a 2.80 GAA and .920 save percentage over nine appearances since coming over in trade from Minnesota. He'll look for win No. 15 on the season against an Anaheim squad that's lost six of its last seven games and has just three wins in the last 22.
Apr 23, 2022
Gets second win with new team
Kahkonen made 27 saves in a 4-1 win over Chicago on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
It was his second victory since being acquired from the Wild on March 21. Kahkonen is 2-4-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .920 save percentage in eight starts with the Sharks.
Apr 23, 2022
In goal versus Chicago
Kahkonen will guard the home goal Saturday versus the Blackhawks, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen got his first win as a Shark in his last start, stopping 22 of 24 shots versus the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will have another favorable matchup, though the Blackhawks beat the Sharks 5-4 in a shootout in their last meeting on April 14.
Apr 19, 2022
Earns first win with San Jose
Kahkonen stopped 22 of 24 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen went empty in his first seven games with the Sharks, but he was able to make a three-goal lead from the first period stand Tuesday. He allowed both goals to Jack Roslovic in the third. Kahkonen is now at 13-12-4 with a 2.91 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 33 games between the Sharks and the Wild this season. He's split time fairly evenly with James Reimer lately, but there's been no discernible pattern to how head coach Bob Boughner deploys his goalies.
Apr 19, 2022
Gets starting nod
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Tuesday's home game versus the Blue Jackets, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has played well recently, having maintained an admirable 2.00 GAA and .943 save percentage through his last three starts, but he's suffered three straight losses over that span due to poor goal support from his teammates. He'll attempt to get back in the win column in a home matchup with a Columbus team that's averaging 2.97 goals per game on the road this year, 15th in the NHL.
Apr 16, 2022
Getting no help from offense
Kahkonen stopped 24 of 26 shots in Saturday's 2-1 loss to Dallas.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen wasn't bad, but his teammates once again left him out to dry by providing almost no support. The Finnish netminder has deserved a better fate lately, going 0-1-1 in his last two starts despite setting aside 64 of 67 shots over that stretch. Considering the Sharks are winless in their last nine games and Kahkonen's last victory came back on Feb. 20 as a member of the Wild, it's hard to recommend Kahkonen as a fantasy option despite his recent uptick in form.
Apr 16, 2022
Starting in Dallas
Kahkonen will patrol the crease during Saturday's road game versus the Stars, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was excellent in his last start Tuesday against the Predators, turning aside 40 of 41 shots, but he was ultimately stuck with a loss due to a complete lack of goal support from his teammates. He'll try to return to the win column in a road matchup with a Dallas team that's averaging 3.22 goals per game at home this year, 13th in the NHL.
Apr 12, 2022
Tough-luck losses extends drought
Kahkonen made 40 saves in Tuesday's 1-0 overtime loss to Nashville.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen remained winless in a Sharks uniform, but this one certainly wasn't on him. He and Juuse Saros both finished regulation without a goal against in this battle of Finnish goalies, and Kahkonen was the far busier of the two. Unfortunately, Kahkonen wasn't rewarded for his efforts, as Ryan Johansen notched the game's only goal after 63:18 of scoreless hockey, keeping Kahkonen winless since Feb. 20.
Apr 12, 2022
Starting in Nashville
Kahkonen will guard the road cage during Tuesday's matchup with the Predators, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen played pretty well in his last start Saturday versus Vancouver, stopping 35 of 38 shots, but he ultimately came away with a loss due to insufficient goal support from his teammates. He'll try to pick up his first win since the month of February in a road matchup with a Nashville squad that's 22-12-0 at home this year.
Apr 9, 2022
Losing skid continues
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 38 shots in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Canucks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen remains in search of his first win as a Shark after dropping this close game. He's 0-8-1 with 36 goals allowed in his last 11 appearances. The 25-year-old Finn is down to 12-11-3 with a 3.06 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 30 appearances overall. The Sharks are on the road this week, with the next stop in Nashville on Tuesday. Kahkonen will likely continue to split time with James Reimer to close out the season.
Apr 9, 2022
Facing Canucks on Saturday
Kahkonen will start in Vancouver on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is still looking for his first win as a Shark after a rough start with his new team (4.80 GAA, .886 save percentage in four appearances). He'll square off in a decent matchup against a Canucks squad that's managed just a 26th-ranked 2.71 goals for at home this season.
Apr 7, 2022
Makes relief appearance
Kahkonen made five saves in relief of James Reimer (undisclosed) in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Flames.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was pressed into duty when Reimer left the game midway through the third period. The only goal the Flames scored after the switch was into an empty net. Kahkonen remains at 12-10-3 with a 3.06 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 29 appearances. He may be needed to make a start as soon as Saturday in Vancouver if Reimer doesn't recover from his injury in time for that contest.
Apr 2, 2022
Avoids loss after early pull
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 14 shots in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Stars.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen only lasted one period Saturday. The Stars had some creative goals against him, but the Sharks' offense bailed him out and left James Reimer with the loss despite his much better performance in the final two periods. Kahkonen is now 12-10-3 with a 3.08 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 28 games between the Sharks and the Wild. It'll likely be Reimer who gets the start Tuesday versus the Oilers.
Apr 2, 2022
Starting against Stars
Kahkonen will start between the pipes in Saturday's home game versus Dallas, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was decent in his last start Thursday against Colorado, stopping 42 of 46 shots, but he ultimately came away with a loss due to insufficient goal support from his teammates. He'll try to snap his personal eight-game losing streak in a home matchup with a Stars squad that's 17-16-2 on the road this year.
Mar 31, 2022
Takes loss in tough matchup
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 46 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen did well to keep this game close -- the Sharks didn't trail by multiple goals until 15:16 of the third period. Despite the solid performance, Kahkonen still remains in pursuit of his first win as a Shark. The Finnish netminder is down to 12-10-3 with a 2.96 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 27 appearances between the Sharks and the Wild. He's expected to continue splitting time with James Reimer, though it's unclear how much he'll play with no back-to-backs in the next week.
Mar 29, 2022
Facing Avalanche
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Thursday's road game versus Colorado, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was a little shaky in his San Jose debut Thursday against the Oilers, surrendering four goals on 40 shots en route to a 5-2 defeat. He'll try to pick up his first win as a Shark in a rough road matchup with an Avalanche team that's 26-4-3 at home this season.
Mar 26, 2022
Will start Wednesday
Kahkonen will get the starting nod for Wednesday's road clash with Arizona, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
ANALYSIS
After facing 40 shots in his Sharks debut against Edmonton on Thursday, Kahkonen will no doubt be hoping for a lighter workload from the Coyotes. Acquired by the team at the trade deadline, the 25-year-old netminder should get the opportunity to earn the starting job for the rest of this season and possibly beyond.
Mar 24, 2022
Kept busy in San Jose debut
Kahkonen stopped 36 of 40 shots in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Oilers. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen's Sharks debut didn't go so well, though he was able to keep the game scoreless in the first period. The Oilers put a pair past him in each of the last two frames to send him to his seventh straight loss. The 25-year-old dropped to 12-9-3 with a 2.92 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 26 appearances. The Finn should get a chance to compete with James Reimer for the No. 1 spot, but this situation is likely to end as a timeshare at best. The Sharks' next game is Saturday versus the Ducks.
Mar 22, 2022
Ready for Sharks debut
Kahkonen will patrol the crease during Thursday's road game versus the Oilers, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has been decent with the Wild this season, going 12-8-3 while posting a 2.87 GAA and a .910 save percentage through 25 appearances. He'll try to secure his first win as a Shark in a road matchup with an Edmonton team that's averaging 3.48 goals per game at home this season, eighth in the NHL.
Mar 21, 2022
Headed out West
Kahkonen was flipped to San Jose from Minnesota on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen suddenly found himself sitting third on the depth chart after the Wild acquired Marc-Andre Fleury from the Blackhawks on Monday. The team likely would have needed to place the 25-year-old Kahkonen on waivers in order to move him to the minors, so Minnesota will at least get something for moving the Finnish netminder. With San Jose, Kahkonen should get the opportunity to start some games down the stretch, especially if James Reimer is moved.
Mar 14, 2022
Struggles continue Sunday
Kahkonen stopped 19 of 23 shots in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Predators.
ANALYSIS
Two empty-net tallies for Nashville didn't go on Kahkonen's ledger, but it was still another shaky performance from the 25-year-old. Kahkonen is 0-5-1 over his last six games with a 3.87 GAA and .873 save percentage, but with Cam Talbot not doing any better lately (3.84 GAA and .870 SvP over his last eight appearances), Minnesota coach Dean Evason has little choice but to keep using both until one of them turns things around.
Mar 13, 2022
Guarding cage Sunday
Kahkonen will get the starting nod at home against the Predators on Sunday, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is on a five-game losing streak, posting a 3.81 GAA and an .881 save percentage during that run. The 25-year-old is now 12-7-3 with a 2.81 GAA through 24 games this season. His last home win was Feb. 14 against Detroit where he stopped 30 of 34 shots.
Mar 12, 2022
Falls in shootout Friday
Kahkonen stopped 26 shots in regulation and overtime and one of two shootout attempts in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
Rookie Yegor Chinakhov had the Minnesota goalie's number, scoring the opening goal in the first period and then potting the only tally of the shootout. Kahkonen's winless streak is now at five starts, a stretch during which he's gone 0-4-1 with a 3.81 GAA and .881 save percentage.
Mar 11, 2022
Facing Blue Jackets on Friday
Kahkonen will start between the pipes Friday in Columbus, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has gone 4-5-0 with a 3.44 GAA and .898 save percentage over his last 10 appearances. The 25-year-old is currently mired in a personal four-game losing streak. At home, Columbus has posted a 15-12-3 record while averaging 3.40 goals for and 29.7 shots on goal, ranking 10th and 28th, respectively.
Mar 7, 2022
Gets hook in Sunday's loss
Kahkonen turned aside 17 of 21 shots before being replaced by Cam Talbot midway through the second period of Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Stars.
ANALYSIS
A snap shot from the high slot by Jason Robertson proved to be the final straw for coach Dean Evason, as Kahkonen got a piece of the puck but not enough to stop it from trickling across the line behind him. It's the fourth straight loss for the 25-year-old netminder, and since the beginning of February he's posted a rough 3.63 GAA and .890 save percentage over seven appearances.
Mar 6, 2022
Between pipes Sunday
Kahkonen will defend the cage Sunday versus visiting Dallas, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has gone 8-4-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .920 save percentage over his last 15 appearances. On the road, Dallas has posted an 11-13-2 record alongside averages of 2.31 goals for and 32.4 shots on goal, ranking 30th and 19th, respectively. The Stars also hold the 12th-ranked road power-play percentage with 22.2.
Mar 5, 2022
Drops wild one to Buffalo
Kahkonen turned aside 33 of 37 shots in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Sabres.
ANALYSIS
Buffalo's final goal was scored into an empty net, part of a frantic third period that saw each team light the lamp three times. Kahkonen has been struggling since the beginning of February, going 2-4-0 in six starts with a 3.26 GAA and .899 save percentage, but Cam Talbot's own shaky performance over that stretch has kept the duo in a relatively even timeshare.
Mar 4, 2022
Facing Sabres on Friday
Kahkonen will patrol the crease Friday in Buffalo, per Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has gone 3-3-0 with a 3.07 GAA and .908 save percentage over his last six appearances. The Sabres have been subpar at home this season, posting an 8-14-4 record alongside bottom-10 averages of 30.3 shots on goal and 2.85 goals for. Buffalo also holds the 11th-ranked home power-play percentage at 23.5.
Feb 26, 2022
Torched by Flames
Kahkonen gave up five goals on 33 shots in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Flames.
ANALYSIS
The Flames scored in a variety of ways in the contest, but the Wild couldn't keep up as Kahkonen took his second straight loss. The Finn has allowed seven goals in those two games versus the Maple Leafs and Flames. He's down to 12-5-2 with a 2.67 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 21 appearances. The Wild will host the Flames on Tuesday, but it seems more likely Cam Talbot will start that contest against one of his old teams.
Feb 26, 2022
Making second straight start
Kahkonen will guard the road goal Saturday versus the Flames, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has been solid in four starts in February, going 2-2-0 with a .916 save percentage. The 25-year-old will get a tough draw against a Flames team likely to be ornery after seeing their 10-game winning streak snapped in a 7-1 loss to the Canucks. Kahkonen will start his second straight game, though he essentially remains in a tandem with Cam Talbot.
Feb 24, 2022
Can't stop train from Auston
Kahkonen made 22 saves Thursday in a 3-1 loss to Toronto.
ANALYSIS
He allowed two goals, both to the league leader, Auston Matthews. The first was off the rush and the big center just wired it past him. The second was a two-on-one that was body-twisting and Matthews just tapped it past. Kahkonen had won his previous two and three of his last four, but Mathews and the Leafs were dominant.
Feb 23, 2022
Starting Thursday
Kahkonen will start between the pipes Thursday in Toronto, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has posted a 7-1-1 record with a 2.53 GAA and .927 save percentage over his last 10 performances. Minnesota defeated Toronto 4-3 in their last meeting Dec. 4, but Kahkonen did not make an appearance. The Maple Leafs have gone 18-5-1 at home alongside the top-ranked home power-play percentage at 34.3.
Feb 20, 2022
Collects win over Edmonton
Kahkonen stopped 30 of 33 shots in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Oilers.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was spotted a four-goal lead before he gave one up, and the Wild were able to cruise to the finish. They've scored seven goals in each of Kahkonen's last two starts, though he hasn't been very sharp in allowed seven goals on 67 shots in those games. The 25-year-old is up to 12-3-2 with a 2.56 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 19 games overall. He'll likely continue to share goaltending duties with Cam Talbot as long as neither of them go on an extended strong run.
Feb 20, 2022
Facing Oilers on Sunday
Kahkonen will defend the net in Sunday's road tilt versus Edmonton, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has gone 7-1-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .931 save percentage over his last 10 appearances. The Oilers have been hot in February, going 6-2-0 while averaging 35.4 shots on goal through the month. Edmonton holds a 14-10-0 record at home on the season alongside an average of 3.17 goals for.
Feb 15, 2022
Bailed out by offense Monday
Kahkonen turned aside 30 shots in Monday's 7-4 win over the Red Wings.
ANALYSIS
Detroit actually grabbed a 2-0 lead about four minutes into the first period, but Minnesota responded with five straight tallies, including three on the power play. Even then, Kahkonen had trouble putting the game away, getting beaten twice more in the third to bring the score to 5-4 before the Wild finally iced the game. The 25-year-old netminder is 7-1-1 over his last 10 appearances with a 2.43 GAA and .931 save percentage, but the Wild have also scored an average of 4.4 goals a game during that stretch.
Feb 14, 2022
Slated to start Monday
Kahkonen is expected to start between the pipes Monday against visiting Detroit, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has gone 10-3-2 with a 2.44 GAA and .924 save percentage over 17 games this season. As visitors, the Red Wings have posted a 7-12-3 record while averaging 28.5 shots on goal and 2.45 goals for, ranking 23rd and 28th, respectively. Detroit also holds a 21st-ranked road power-play percentage at 17.9.
Feb 8, 2022
Hard-luck loss Tuesday
Kahkonen yielded one goal on 28 shots in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to the Jets. The second goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen played well, only giving up a goal to Mark Scheifele midway through the first period. The Wild didn't give Kahkonen any support, sending the Finn to his first regulation loss since Dec. 11. The 25-year-old is now at 10-3-2 with a 2.44 GAA and a .924 save percentage through 17 appearances. With Kahkonen playing well, he may earn an even split of the starts with Cam Talbot, though both of the Wild's goaltenders are quality options in fantasy. The Wild host the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Feb 7, 2022
Gets starting nod Tuesday
Kahkonen will start Tuesday's game in Winnipeg, per coach Dean Evason, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Cam Talbot participated in the All-Star Game over the weekend while Kahkonen got a chance to rest up, so Minnesota will roll with the fresher backup for its first game back. Kahkonen has a sparkling 10-2-2 record, 2.53 GAA and .922 save percentage, and he'll face a depleted Jets team that just placed prominent contributors Pierre-Luc Dubois and Neal Pionk in COVID-19 protocols.
Jan 30, 2022
Holds on to beat Islanders
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 43 shots in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
The Wild never trailed in this contest thanks to Kahkonen's strong goaltending. The Finn has collected six wins in his last seven starts, carrying the load while Cam Talbot was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Kahkonen is now at 10-2-2 with a 2.53 GAA and a .922 save percentage through 16 appearances. He's probably earned a more even share of the workload going forward, though the veteran Talbot likely holds more trust with head coach Dean Evason. The Wild's last game before the All-Star break is Wednesday in Chicago.
Jan 30, 2022
Facing Islanders on Sunday
Kahkonen will patrol the crease in Sunday's road game against the Islanders, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has posted a 5-0-1 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .935 save percentage over his last eight appearances. The 25-year-old stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Islanders on Nov. 7. The Isles have been solid in January, posting a 6-3-0 record while averaging 28.9 shots on goal per game through the month.
Jan 24, 2022
Comes on in relief
Kahkonen made five saves on six shots in a 8-2 win over the Canadiens on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen made two saves on the power play to hold Montreal to just the two goals. The usual Wild starter was going to have the night off in this one before replacing Cam Talbot. The 25-year-old netminder has a record of 9-2-2 with a 2.48 GAA this season.
Jan 24, 2022
Not starting Monday
Kahkonen will not get the starting nod versus Montreal on Monday despite previous reports. Instead, Cam Talbot will be between the pipes at home, per Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
ANALYSIS
With Talbot having dealt with a lower-body injury, Kahkonen was called upon to start each of the Wild's previous six contests in which he went 5-0-1 with a 2.26 GAA. After Monday's contest, Minnesota will be off until Friday's clash with the Rangers, so the 25-year-old Kahkonen will get some extra rest but may have played his way into a bigger share of the goaltending duties moving forward.
Jan 24, 2022
Starting Monday
Kahkonen will start Monday's game against the Canadiens, Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Cam Talbot rejoined the active roster Saturday after missing several games with a lower-body injury, but Kahkonen will make a seventh consecutive start. The Wild are off until Friday (at New York Rangers), so it looks like head coach Dean Evason wants to give his top goalie another handful of days off.
Jan 22, 2022
Takes overtime win Saturday
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 36 shots in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen had a shaky first period, but he was able to bounce back the rest of the way, and the Wild's late-game heroics came through again. The Finn has defeated the Blackhawks in consecutive games. He's now 9-2-2 with a 2.48 GAA and a .922 save percentage in 14 appearances. Cam Talbot (lower body) was cleared to serve as backup Saturday, so Kahkonen's three-week run as the unquestioned starting goalie is likely to end soon. Next up is Monday's home game versus the Canadiens.
Jan 22, 2022
Guarding cage Saturday
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint Saturday against the visiting Blackhawks, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen will make his sixth consecutive start Saturday. The 25-year-old has posted a 4-0-1 with a 2.14 GAA and a .941 save percentage over his last five starts. The Blackhawks have gone 7-11-3 as visitors this season, alongside an average of 26.2 shots on goal and 2.33 goals for per game, ranking 31st and 28th respectively.
Jan 21, 2022
Shines in win
Kahkonen made 35 saves on 36 shots in a 5-1 win over the Blackhawks on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has still not lost in regulation since 2022 began and a low-powered Chicago offense was not any problem for the netminder in this one. The 25-year-old has gone 4-0-1 in five starts in the new year, allowing three goals or less in each.
Jan 21, 2022
Defending net Friday
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint Friday in Chicago, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen stopped 35 of 38 shots in a 4-3 loss to Colorado on Monday. The 25-year-old has posted a 7-2-2 record with a 2.58 GAA and a .918 save percentage over 12 appearances this season. The Blackhawks have averaged 30.3 shots on goal and 2.39 goals for per game alongside an 8-7-3 record at home this season.
Jan 17, 2022
Comes up short in shootout
Kahkonen stopped 35 shots in regulation and overtime and one of two shootout attempts in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
It was a back-and-forth affair in which Kahkonen made some big saves, but the Wild never led and gave him no margin for error in the shootout by blowing all three of their attempts. He's 3-0-1 to begin the new year, handling No. 1 duties while Cam Talbot (lower body) is sidelined, and on the season Kahkonen sports a 2.58 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Jan 17, 2022
Facing Avalanche on Monday
Kahkonen is starting Monday's game in Colorado, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Cam Talbot remains out with a lower-body injury, so it'll be Kahkonen taking over the blue paint again Monday. He's rattled off three straight wins, allowing just seven goals combined during that stretch. Kahkonen will face a tough test against an Avalanche squad that's averaged a whopping 4.50 goals for over the last eight games -- seven of which were wins.
Jan 14, 2022
Wins third straight game
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 42 shots in Friday's 7-3 win over the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has looked solid with Cam Talbot (lower body) out, as this was the former's third straight win. Two of the goals came in the third period after the Wild had taken control of the contest. Kahkonen improved to 7-2-1 with a 2.56 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 11 appearances. It's unclear if Talbot will be ready to play Monday versus the Avalanche, though that would be an unfavorable matchup for Kahkonen if he's called on to start.
Jan 14, 2022
Between pipes Friday
Kahkonen will be the starting goalie Friday against the Ducks, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The 25-year-old has won his last two starts while stopping 65 of 69 total starts. Kahkonen has a 2.51 GAA and .915 save percentage through 10 games this season.
Jan 8, 2022
Wins again in shootout
Kahkonen made 29 saves, allowing two goals, in the Wild's 3-2 shootout win over the Capitals on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has now started and won two-straight 3-2 contests after his triumphs over the Caps on Saturday and over the Bruins on Thursday. The 25-year-old netminder surrendered two goals in the first two periods against the Capitals, including a screamer of a powerplay goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov that sailed over his glove into the twine, before locking in during the third period. To force overtime, Kahkonen kept the puck out of the back of the net during the third period, watching an own goal bring the score within one before teammate right winger Mats Zuccarello knotted the game at 2-2 in the final seconds of regulation. The Finnish goalkeeper now has four wins in his last five starts and is building some serious momentum.
Jan 8, 2022
Starting second straight game
Kahkonen will guard the home goal Saturday versus the Capitals, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen beat the Bruins 3-2 on Thursday, saving 36 of 38 shots in that contest. The 25-year-old will continue to see the lion's share of the Wild's starts while Cam Talbot (lower body) is unavailable.
Jan 6, 2022
Most pucks faced this season
Kahkonen made a season-high 36 saves in a 3-2 win over the Bruins on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
He was beaten by Taylor Hall on a first-period, 4-on-3 power play, when his one-timer rom the right circle deflected off a Wild defender. And Brad Marchand cut the lead to 3-2 on a second-period power play when he shot into an open net after getting a nifty, no-look backhand pass from Patrice Bergeron. Kahknonen remains the de facto starter in Minny until the injured Cam Talbot (lower body) can return.
Jan 1, 2022
Appears in relief
Kahkonen made four saves in relief after replacing starter Cam Talbot to start the third period of Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Blues in the Winter Classic.
ANALYSIS
He spent almost as much time on the bench in the third as he was on the ice -- the Wild pulled him for an extra attacker at the 12:15 mark. While it was assumed during the game that Talbot was pulled for performance reasons, the opposite was true -- he suffered some type of lower body injury. Kahkonen will be the starter going forward until Talbot returns.
Dec 11, 2021
Plays well in loss
Kahkonen allowed two goals on 37 shots in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
ANALYSIS
It's tough to fault Kahkonen for this loss, as the Wild's offense had no answer for Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. Kahkonen slipped to 4-2-1 with a 2.75 GAA and a .905 save percentage in seven games. He's allowed two goals in each of his last three starts, and he's really only had two bad outings. He'll return to backup duties Sunday as Cam Talbot starts against the Golden Knights.
Dec 11, 2021
Starting versus Kings
Kahkonen will protect the road goal Saturday versus the Kings, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has stopped 29 of 31 shots in each of his last two starts to beat the Coyotes and the Devils. Head coach Dean Evason continues to play the matchups for Kahkonen's starts -- he's playing Saturday because Cam Talbot is set to start Sunday against the Golden Knights.
Dec 2, 2021
Wins second straight start
Kahkonen stopped 29 of 31 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Devils.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen started in consecutive games for just the second time this year, and he had little trouble in fending off the Devils. He's up to a 4-1-1 record with a 2.87 GAA and an .895 save percentage in six games. It's not like Cam Talbot was playing poorly prior to Kahkonen's two starts this week -- head coach Dean Evason will likely be happy both of his goalies are in good form. That said, an unfavorable matchup with the surging Maple Leafs awaits whichever goalie starts Saturday.
Dec 2, 2021
Facing Devils
Kahkonen will patrol the crease during Thursday's home game versus New Jersey, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen played well in his last start Tuesday against Arizona, stopping 29 of 31 shots en route to a 5-2 victory. The 25-year-old goaltender will try to secure his fourth win of the year in a home matchup with a Devils team that's only averaging 2.38 goals per game on the road this season, 24th in the NHL.
Nov 30, 2021
Solid in third win
Kahkonen stopped 29 of 31 shots in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Coyotes.
ANALYSIS
The Coyotes struck first, but the Wild were up 4-1 through two periods and Kahkonen had no trouble making that lead last. It's the second time this year Kahkonen has defeated the Coyotes. He improved to 3-1-1 with an .885 save percentage through five appearances. Cam Talbot will likely be back in net for Thursday's game versus the Devils, as Kahkonen has only seen a backup's workload so far.
Nov 30, 2021
Starting against Arizona
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Tuesday's home game versus the Coyotes, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen wasn't great in his last start Nov. 21 versus Tampa Bay, surrendering four goals on just 24 shots en route to a 5-4 defeat. The 25-year-old netminder will try to secure his third win of the year in a favorable home matchup with an Arizona team that's 3-9-1 on the road this year.
Nov 21, 2021
Falls to Bolts in shootout
Kahkonen turned aside 20 shots in regulation and overtime and two of three shootout attempts in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Lightning.
ANALYSIS
The 25-year-old netminder wasn't particularly busy or sharp, but Kahkonen was at least able to earn the Wild a point. Inactivity might have been part of the problem -- this was only his fourth appearance of the season as Cam Talbot has dominated the action in the crease for Minnesota, although Kahkonen's 3.30 GAA and .870 save percentage don't make a compelling case for more action.
Nov 21, 2021
Gets start Sunday
Kahkonen is in net for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
It will be the fourth start of the season for Kahkonen, who has a 3.07 GAA and .882 save percentage. He most recently allowed a pair of goals Nov. 10 against the Coyotes.
Nov 10, 2021
Takes down Coyotes
Kahkonen allowed two goals on 26 shots in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Coyotes.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has won each of his last two starts, allowing four goals on 47 shots in that span. The Finn has played in just three of the Wild's first 12 contests, primarily serving as the backup to Cam Talbot. Kahkonen will return to that role for Thursday's game against the Golden Knights, limiting his fantasy value to deeper formats without a clear path to more playing time.
Nov 10, 2021
Gets starting nod
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Wednesday's road game against Arizona, source reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was decent in his last start Sunday against the Islanders, stopping 19 of 21 shots en route to a 5-2 victory. He'll attempt to secure a second straight win in a favorable road matchup with a Coyotes club that's gotten off to a disastrous 1-10-1 start this year.
Nov 7, 2021
Collects win over Islanders
Kahkonen stopped 19 of 21 shots in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
The final score was misleading, as the Wild only led from 9:18 of the third period onward in what was a tight game. Kahkonen did well to keep things close despite a relative lack of work to do. The Finn has only played in two of the Wild's 11 games as Cam Talbot has served as a clear No. 1 in goal so far. With a road back-to-back in Arizona on Wednesday and Vegas on Thursday, Kahkonen shouldn't have to wait too long for his third game of the year.
Nov 7, 2021
Guarding cage Sunday
Kahkonen will get the starting nod for Sunday's home tilt against the Islanders, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has appeared in just one game so far this season, coughing up five goals on 29 shots in a loss to Nashville last month. The 25-year-old should continue to be used sparingly behind Cam Talbot, but he'll likely see another start next week as Minnesota has another back-to-back on the schedule. He went 16-8-0 with a .902 save percentage last season.
Oct 24, 2021
Rocky outing in season debut
Kahkonen gave up five goals on 29 shots in a 5-2 loss to Nashville on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was making his first appearance of the 2021-22 campaign and was greeted by a trio of Nashville goals inside the first 13 minutes of the game, the first two coming on the power play. Kahkonen went 16-8-0 as a rookie in 2020-21, posting a 2.88 GAA and .902 save percentage, but is the clear No. 2 in Minnesota behind veteran Cam Talbot.
Oct 9, 2021
Starting in Chicago
Kahkonen will start between the pipes in Saturday's road preseason game versus the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen is set to enter the regular season as the Wild's No. 2 option behind Cam Talbot. The 25-year-old netminder went 16-8-0 while posting a 2.89 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 24 appearances last year.
Oct 6, 2021
Starting second straight
Kahkonen will patrol the home crease during Wednesday's preseason clash with the Blues, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen wasn't tested much in his last preseason appearance Monday against Colorado, but he was sharp when he needed to be, turning aside 15 of 16 shots en route to a 3-1 win. The Finnish netminder will likely once again play the entirety of Wednesday's contest versus St. Louis
Oct 4, 2021
Between pipes against Avs
Kahkonen will tend the twine at home versus Colorado on Monday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen put up solid numbers last year, as he posted a 16-8-0 record with two shutouts and a 2.89 GAA. If the young Finn can continue to produce at that level, he may eventually challenge Cam Talbot for the starting job yet figures to split the starts early in the season limiting Kahkonen's fantasy value.
May 13, 2021
Blown out by Blues
Kahkonen yielded seven goals on 27 shots in a 7-3 loss to St. Louis on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Things were looking promising for Kahkonen and the Wild, who led 3-0 after 20 minutes, but the 24-year-old netminder was absolutely blitzed the rest of the way. Kahkonen had entered the night riding a four-game winning streak, but he now owns an .849 save percentage since the start of April. That includes a pair of starts in which he allowed nine goals and seven goals.
May 13, 2021
Starting regular-season finale
Kahkonen will protect the road goal in Thursday's regular-season finale versus the Blues, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has seen a reduced workload since the start of March. It's done well for him, as he enters Thursday on a four-game winning streak. The Finn has a 2.74 GAA and a .904 save percentage in that span. He'll need more help from his teammates than Cam Talbot got in Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Blues.
May 7, 2021
Defeats Ducks in overtime
Kahkonen stopped 22 of 25 shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen allowed a goal in each period of regulation time, but Kirill Kaprizov struck just 17 seconds into overtime to give the Wild a win. The 24-year-old Kahkonen improved to 16-7-0 with a 2.70 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 23 games. The Finn will back up Cam Talbot on Saturday, but the Wild's top two goalies will likely split a pair of games against the Blues on Wednesday and Thursday.
May 7, 2021
Slated to start
Per Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Kahkonen was the first goalie off the ice at morning skate, indicating he'll start between the pipes in Friday's home game against Anaheim.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has been on a roll over the past three weeks, stringing together three straight wins while posting a respectable .910 save percentage. He'll try to extend his personal winning streak to four games in a home matchup with a Ducks team that's averaging 2.54 goals per game on the road this campaign, 23rd in the NHL.
May 1, 2021
Wins third straight start
Kahkonen kicked out 28 of 31 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over the Blues on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
A late comeback by the Wild, topped off by Kevin Fiala's overtime tally, gave Kahkonen his third consecutive victory. The 24-year-old Kahkonen, making just his fourth start since the start of April while No. 1 netminder Cam Talbot was given a night off, improved to 15-7-0 on the year with a 2.69 GAA and .909 save percentage.
May 1, 2021
Starting in St. Louis
Kahkonen is slated to start between the pipes in Saturday's road matchup with the Blues, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was pretty solid in his last start last Saturday against San Jose, stopping 27 of 30 shots en route to a 6-3 victory. He'll attempt to extend his personal winning streak to three games in a tough road matchup with a surging St. Louis team that's won four straight games.
Apr 24, 2021
Victorious in spot start
Kahkonen turned away 27 of 30 shots in a 6-3 win over San Jose on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen and the Wild were on cruise control with a 4-0 lead through 40 minutes, but the Sharks made things interesting in the final frame. Kahkonen did enough to earn the 14th win of his rookie campaign, although he was making just his third start of April behind veteran Cam Talbot.
Apr 24, 2021
Defending net Saturday
Kahkonen will guard the road net in Saturday's game against the Sharks, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen will make his second start of April, as Cam Talbot has retaken the starting job. Nevertheless, Kahkonen still spots a respectable .910 save percentage and a 13-7-0 record this year. The Sharks enter Saturday's game with seven straight losses, failing to score more than two goals in any game during that stretch.
Apr 17, 2021
Earns win over Sharks
Kahkonen allowed two goals on 28 shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Sharks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was much better than in his last outing, when he gave up nine goals in a loss to the Blues on April 9. The 24-year-old Kahkonen improved to 13-7-0 with a 2.66 GAA and a .910 save percentage. This outing likely earned the Finn a bit more trust, but Cam Talbot will remain the Wild's No. 1 goalie.
Apr 17, 2021
Starting against San Jose
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Saturday's road game versus the Sharks, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen hasn't started since April 9 against St. Louis, and he was awful in that contest, surrendering nine goals on 38 shots en route to a brutal 9-1 loss. The 24-year-old netminder will try to shake off that poor performance and snap his personal three-game losing streak in a favorable home matchup with a struggling San Jose team that's lost four straight games.
Apr 9, 2021
Awful outing versus Blues
Kahkonen gave up nine goals on 38 shots in Friday's 9-1 loss to the Blues.
ANALYSIS
Despite being outmatched from the start, head coach Dean Evason didn't pull Kahkonen in the first game of a back-to-back. Instead, the Finnish goalie was on the hook for a franchise-worst loss. He dropped to 12-7-0 with a 2.69 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 19 appearances. Kahkonen won nine straight games between Feb. 18 and March 16, but he's since lost his last three outings. Cam Talbot will almost assuredly start Saturday's rematch with the Blues.
Apr 9, 2021
Starting in St. Louis
Kahkonen will patrol the crease during Friday's road game versus the Blues, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen hasn't played since March 31 versus the Sharks, when he surrendered three goals on 32 shots en route to a 4-2 defeat. The 24-year-old rookie will attempt to get back in the win column in a road matchup with a St. Louis squad that's 5-9-4 at home this year.
Mar 31, 2021
Drops result in San Jose
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 32 shots in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Sharks. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was perfect in the first period, but the Sharks took over in the second and held on to hand the Finn his second straight loss. The 24-year-old has a 12-6-0 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 18 games. The Wild finish a back-to-back Thursday in Vegas, which likely means Kahkonen will back up Cam Talbot for that contest.
Mar 31, 2021
Gets starting nod
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Wednesday's road game versus the Sharks, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen hasn't started in goal since March 20, when he surrendered six goals on 42 shots in an ugly 6-0 loss to the Avalanche. The 24-year-old rookie will attempt to bounce back and pick up his 13th win of the season in a road matchup with a San Jose squad that's only averaging 2.64 goals per game at home this campaign, 25th in the NHL.
Mar 20, 2021
Buried by Avs
Kahkonen stopped 36 shots in Saturday's 6-0 loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Cale Makar scored on the power play less than five minutes into the first period, setting the tone early on an ugly afternoon for the Wild. It's the first time since Jan. 30 that Kahkonen has given up more than three goals and, despite Saturday's onslaught, the 24-year-old still boasts a 2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage on the season.
Mar 19, 2021
Facing Avalanche
Kahkonen will guard the road cage during Saturday's clash with Colorado, NHL.com's Rick Sadowski reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was unbeatable in his last start Tuesday against Arizona, stopping all 31 shots he faced en route to his 12th win and second shutout of the season. The 24-year-old rookie will attempt to pick up a 10th straight victory in a road matchup with an Avalanche squad that's averaging 3.50 goals per game at home this campaign, seventh in the NHL.
Mar 16, 2021
Second shutout in three games
Kahkonen posted a 31-save shutout in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Coyotes.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen picked up his second shutout in his last three starts, and the Wild's third goose egg in five games. The Finnish rookie improved to 12-4-0 with a 2.05 GAA and a .927 save percentage in 16 outings. Kahkonen has been every bit as good as veteran Cam Talbot, which allows head coach Dean Evason to divvy up the goaltending workload pretty evenly.
Mar 16, 2021
Starting against Arizona
Kahkonen will guard the home goal during Tuesday's matchup with the Coyotes, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was a little shaky in his last start Wednesday versus Vegas, surrendering three goals on 27 shots, but he still made enough stops to pick up his eighth straight victory. The 24-year-old rookie will try to secure his 12th win of the season in a home matchup with a slumping Arizona team that's lost three straight games.
Mar 10, 2021
Keeps winning streak alive
Kahkonen stopped 24 shots Wednesday in a 4-3 win over Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen pushed his winning streak to eight games, although Vegas made it interesting with a pair of goals in the final six minutes of the third period. The rookie netminder is now 11-4-0 with a 2.19 GAA and .922 save percentage.
Mar 10, 2021
Facing Golden Knights
Kahkonen will guard the goal during Wednesday's home game versus Vegas, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has been unstoppable over the past three weeks, stringing together seven consecutive wins while posting a highly impressive 1.42 GAA and .947 save percentage. He'll attempt to pick up his 11th win of the season in a rematch with a Golden Knights club that he just shut out Monday, stopping all 26 shots he faced en route to a 2-0 victory.
Mar 8, 2021
Nets first career shutout
Kahkonen kicked out 26 shots in a 2-0 win over over Vegas on Monday.
ANALYSIS
The 24-year-old rookie earned his first NHL goose egg against a Vegas squad that was without forward Mark Stone (undisclosed) and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (undisclosed). Kahkonen has been a revelation all year long for the Wild, but he's been particularly stingy during his current seven-game winning streak, posting a .947 save percentage and allowing two goals or fewer in six of those outings.
Mar 8, 2021
Tending twine Monday
Kahkonen will guard the home goal in Monday's game versus the Golden Knights, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has won six straight games while generating a .938 save percentage and a 1.65 GAA, and he's slowly taking the No. 1 job from Cam Talbot, who has lost three straight. The Golden Knights present a tough matchup, though, as they rank fifth in the league with 3.33 goals per game. However, Kahkonen's duties will be a bit easier if Mark Stone (undisclosed) and Alex Pietrangelo (undisclosed) sit out.
Mar 5, 2021
Strong in win over Coyotes
Kahkonen stopped 24 of 25 shots in Friday's 5-1 win over the Coyotes.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen only allowed a third-period goal to Coyotes winger Clayton Keller. The strong performance gave Kahkonen his sixth straight win, and he improved to 9-4-0 in 13 games. The Finnish netminder has an impressive 2.30 GAA and a .918 save percentage, and he's done well enough to earn a timeshare with Cam Talbot in goal. It'll likely be Talbot who starts Saturday's game versus the Coyotes.
Mar 5, 2021
Facing Coyotes
Kahkonen will start between the pipes in Friday's road clash with the Coyotes, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has been razor sharp since mid-February, piling up five straight wins while posting an impressive 1.78 GAA and .934 save percentage. He'll attempt to secure his ninth victory of the campaign in a road matchup with an Arizona team that's only averaging 2.47 goals per game this season, 27th in the NHL.
Feb 28, 2021
Staying in NHL
Kahkonen will remain in the NHL following news that the Wild waived Alex Stalock on Sunday, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen doesn't require waivers to be sent to AHL Iowa, but the Wild are reiterating their confidence in the 24-year-old as they risk losing Stalock -- a dependable veteran -- on waivers. Cam Talbot and Kahkonen figure to form a 1A-1B tandem if Stalock is claimed on waivers. Kahkonen's recent performance earned him the job, as he recorded a .915 save percentage and an 8-4-0 record through 12 starts this year.
Feb 27, 2021
Wins fifth in a row
Kahkonen stopped 25 of 28 shots Saturday in a 4-3 overtime win over the Kings.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen survived the Kings' erasure of a 3-0 deficit when Minnesota's Matt Dumba scored with three-tenths of a second left in overtime. It was the fifth consecutive win for Kahkonen, who improved to 8-4-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Feb 27, 2021
Starting against LA
Kahkonen will guard the home cage during Saturday's home game versus the Kings, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has been red hot recently, picking up four straight wins while posting an impressive 1.51 GAA and .945 save percentage. He'll try to secure a fifth straight victory in a tough home matchup with an LA team that's won six of its last seven games.
Feb 24, 2021
Up to challenge Wednesday
Kahkonen stopped 30 of 32 shots in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Once again, the Wild's offense supplied Kahkonen with plenty of support. He's received 20 goals from his offense during his current four-game winning streak. The Finnish netminder improved to 7-4-0 with a 2.37 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 11 outings. Cam Talbot has backed up Kahkonen in each of the last two games, but the latter's play has potentially forced head coach Dean Evason to run with the hot hand for now. A back-to-back situation versus the Kings on Friday and Saturday is next, which will likely allow both Wild goalies to get a start.
Feb 24, 2021
Starting fifth straight
Khakonen will make a fifth consecutive start Wednesday in Colorado, Sarah McLellan of Star Tribune Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Cam Talbot's healthy and available, but the Wild are content to keep riding the 24-year-old Kahkonen. Since allowing three goals in a Feb. 16 loss to the Kings, Kahkonen has led Minnesota on a season-best three-game winning streak, posting an impressive 1.34 GAA and .948 save percentage during the streak. That success came in two games against the Ducks and one against the Sharks, so Kahkonen will face a much tougher test here against the high-powered Avalanche.
Feb 22, 2021
Stands tall in win
Kahkonen stopped 31 of 33 shots in Monday's 6-2 win over the Sharks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen yielded a goal to Brent Burns in the first minute, but only Logan Couture beat him after that. The Wild's offense was more than capable of covering what got past Kahkonen. The Finnish netminder improved to 6-4-0 with a 2.41 GAA and a .915 save percentage through 10 appearances. Cam Talbot served as the backup Monday, so Kahkonen's run as the unquestioned starter is likely soon to end. He's done well enough in the last four games to earn more playing time, as he allowed just seven goals on 105 shots in that span.
Feb 22, 2021
Set for fourth straight start
Kahkonen will defend the road net in Monday's game versus the Sharks, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Cam Talbot is suiting up for the first time since Feb. 2, but he'll simply serve as the backup Monday. In turn, Kahkonen gets another audition to hopefully capture a few more starts moving forward. The 24-year-old has been a bit inconsistent this year, but his raw numbers -- a 5-4-0 record and a .911 save percentage -- are encouraging signs. The Sharks enter Monday's game 7-7-2 while averaging 2.56 goals per game (22nd in the league).
Feb 20, 2021
Defeats Ducks again
Kahkonen turned aside 26 of 27 shots in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was again strong in Saturday's contest, with only a David Backes tip-in goal sneaking by him. The 24-year-old Kahkonen improved to 5-4-0 with a 2.46 GAA and a .911 save percentage through nine appearances. Cam Talbot's return is almost imminent at this point, so Kahkonen's playing time is likely to shrink, but he will likely be one of the league's better backups over the balance of the season.
Feb 19, 2021
Tending twine Saturday
Kahkonen will defend the road goal in Saturday's game versus the Ducks, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
While Cam Talbot has cleared the NHL's COVID-19 protocol and is on his way to Anaheim, head coach Dean Evason said Friday that he needs another practice before suiting up again. In turn, Kahkonen will remain between the pipes. The 24-year-old defeated the Ducks on Thursday, turning aside 16 of 17 shots, and he's recorded a .905 save percentage and a 4-4-0 record this year.
Feb 18, 2021
Lightly tested in win
Kahkonen stopped 16 of 17 shots in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen allowed a goal to Sam Steel in the second period and nothing else in the low-event win. Through eight appearances, Kahkonen has a 4-4-0 record with a 2.65 GAA and a .905 save percentage. The Finn has been solid in much more than action than he was initially anticipated to get this year. Cam Talbot (COVID-19 protocol) took a private jet to Anaheim and could be in the mix to start Saturday's game, but if he's not up to game fitness, Kahkonen would get another nod.
Feb 18, 2021
In goal Thursday
Kahkonen will guard the road cage during Thursday's matchup with Anaheim, Sarah McLellan of the Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen wasn't great in his last start Tuesday against LA, surrendering three goals on 28 shots en route to a 4-0 defeat. The 24-year-old backstop will try to bounce back and snap his two-game losing streak in a favorable road matchup with a Ducks team that's averaging just 1.94 goals per game this campaign, worst in the NHL.
Feb 16, 2021
Gets no help in loss
Kahkonen allowed three goals on 28 shots in Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Kings. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
The Wild's first game back from a two-week layoff for a COVID-19 outbreak saw them play sluggishly in front of the 24-year-old Kahkonen. He wasn't his sharpest either, but it's tough to blame him for the loss when the offense couldn't solve Jonathan Quick in the other net. Kahkonen slipped to 3-4-0 with a 2.90 GAA and a .902 save percentage in seven outings. Cam Talbot remains in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol -- until he clears the protocol, Kahkonen is the primary starter for the Wild.
Feb 16, 2021
Tending twine Tuesday
Kahkonen will defend the road goal in Tuesday's game versus the Kings, Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider reports.
ANALYSIS
Cam Talbot is still in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, so Kahkonen will get the nod in the Wild's first game since Feb. 2. Kahkonen has been mediocre so far, registering a .903 save percentage and a 3-3-0 record. Meanwhile, the Kings rank 15th in the league with 3.08 goals per contest.
Jan 30, 2021
Struggles versus Avalanche
Kahkonen yielded five goals on 33 shots in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen had performed reasonably well as starter in place of Cam Talbot, who returned from a lower-body injury to serve as the backup Saturday. The strong run of play ended for Kahkonen with the Avalanche in town for the first of four straight meetings between the teams. The 24-year-old goalie didn't get much help from his teammates, as the Wild mustered just one goal and lost Matt Dumba (leg) and Marcus Johansson (undisclosed) to injury. Kahkonen has a 3-3-0 record with a 2.86 GAA and a .903 save percentage through six outings. Talbot may be ready to start in Sunday's rematch versus the Avalanche, which will likely spell the end of Kahkonen's run of regular playing time.
Jan 30, 2021
Making fourth straight start
According to Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Kahkonen was the first netminder off the ice at morning skating, indicating he'll guard the goal during Saturday's home clash with Colorado.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was pretty solid in his last start Thursday against the Kings, stopping 32 of 35 shots en route to a 5-3 win. The 24-year-old Finn will try to pick up his fourth victory of the season in a tough home matchup with an Avalanche squad that's averaging 3.50 goals per game this campaign, seventh in the NHL.
Jan 28, 2021
Returns to win column
Kahkonen made 29 saves in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Kings.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen drew his fifth straight starting assignment and picked up the win after having taken the loss in each of his previous two games. The 24-year-old Finn has held things together nicely with Cam Talbot (lower body) on the shelf, posting a 2.40 GAA and .917 save percentage during his current run as the starter.
Jan 28, 2021
Facing LA
Kahkonen will defend the blue paint during Thursday's home game versus the Kings, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen has struggled a bit recently, suffering back-to-back losses while posting a sub-par 3.09 GAA and .893 save percentage. He'll try to get back on track in a home matchup with a hot Kings team that's won three of its last four games.
Jan 26, 2021
Turns in steady effort
Kahkonen made 19 saves Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to the Kings.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen, making his fourth straight start, allowed just a 3-on-2 goal by Kurtis MacDermid and a point-blank wrister by Carl Grundstrom in suffering his second straight loss. The 24-year-old has carried the load in the absence of Cam Talbot (lower body) and has performed capably with a .918 save percentage.
Jan 26, 2021
Patrol crease Tuesday
Kahkonen will be in goal against the Kings at home Tuesday, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen will be making his fourth straight appearance, including a relief appearance for the injured Cam Talbot (lower body) on Jan. 22 versus San Jose. The 24-year-old netminder should carry the load for the Wild until Talbot's return, at which point the two goalies figures to share the crease the rest of the way unless one of them can go on a run of strong performances.
Jan 24, 2021
Suffers first loss
Kahkonen allowed four goals on 35 shots in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Sharks. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
ANALYSIS
While the Sharks entered Sunday averaging 1.88 goals per game, that trend didn't last. Kahkonen failed to protect an early 1-0 lead, and the Wild never led again. Brent Burns finished off the Sharks' win late in the third period with the game-winner. Kahkonen has now allowed six goals on 76 shots. It's unclear how long Cam Talbot will be sidelined by a lower-body injury -- while he's out, Kahkonen will see most of the playing time in the crease.
Jan 24, 2021
Looking to stay unbeaten
Kahkonen will draw the home start for Sunday's game versus the Sharks, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was perfect in relief of the injured Cam Talbot (lower body) on Friday, stopping all 17 shots he faced in the 4-1 victory. In his past two appearances, the Finn has gone 2-0-0 along with a 1.20 GAA and .951 save percentage. Kahkonen will draw a great matchup against a Sharks offense that sits 30th in the league in goals per game this season (1.88).
Jan 24, 2021
Looking to stay unbeaten
Kahkonen will draw the home start for Sunday's game versus the Sharks, Jessi Pierce of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was perfect in relief of the injured Cam Talbot (lower body) on Friday, stopping all 17 shots he faced in the 4-1 victory. In his past two appearances, the Finn has gone 2-0-0 along with a 1.20 GAA and .951 save percentage. Kahkonen will draw a great matchup against a Sharks offense that sits 30th in the league in goals per game this season (1.88).
Jan 22, 2021
Perfect in relief for win
Kahkonen went 17-for-17 in saves in relief of an injured Cam Talbot in Friday's 4-1 win over the Sharks.
ANALYSIS
Talbot left the contest after the first period with an undisclosed injury after getting stung by a shot that he couldn't shake off in the intermission. Enter Kahkonen, who stopped every shot he faced and earned the win as the Wild took the lead on a Zach Parise goal in the second period. The 24-year-old Kahkonen has been solid in a backup role through two appearances, but if Talbot misses time, Kahkonen would become the main man in the crease. No starter has been announced for Sunday's encore versus the Sharks at this time.
Jan 20, 2021
Victorious in first start
Kahkonen kicked out 22 shots in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Anaheim.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen was making his first appearance of the season after No. 1 starter Cam Talbot had done the honors in each of the first three games. The 24-year-old didn't have a whole lot to do until the midway point of the second period when the Ducks struck for a pair of goals three-and-a-half minutes apart. Minnesota had dominated play to that point and Kahkonen locked things down again after Anaheim tied the game. He'll likely head back to the bench when Minnesota hosts San Jose on Friday.
Jan 20, 2021
Making season debut Wednesday
Kahkonen will make his season debut Wednesday in Anaheim, Sarah McLellan of Star Tribune Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen watched Cam Talbot start Minnesota's first three games, including Monday's 1-0 loss to the Ducks. While Talbot's off to a strong start in Minnesota, the team will give its backup a shot in this cushy matchup with an Anaheim offense that has mustered only four goals through three games. This will be Kahkonen's first NHL appearance in over a year, as he last guarded the Wild's crease Dec. 15, 2019.
Oct 12, 2020
Secures two-year deal
Kahkonen penned a two-year, $1.45 million contract with Minnesota on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen played in five games with the Wild this season in which he posted a 3-1-1 record and 2.96 GAA. With the addition of Cam Talbot in free agency, Kahkonen figures to compete with Alex Stalock for the No. 2 job. Because Kahkonen's contract is two-way for the first year, he may have to spend some time in the minors with AHL Iowa.
Jan 10, 2020
Shipped down to minors
Kahkonen was reassigned to AHL Iowa on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Kahkonen's demotion comes as Devan Dubnyk is expected to rejoin the team after a personal leave of absence. In five appearances this season, the 23-year-old Kahkonen recorded a 3-1-1 record with a 2.96 GAA. With the uncertainty surrounding Dubnyk's status, this may not be the last time Kahkonen joins the big club.