GuidesBest Goalies in NHL 27: Top 10 Ratings and How to Beat Them
Contents
The best goalies in NHL 27 are Andrei Vasilevskiy (94), Ilya Sorokin (93), Connor Hellebuyck (92), Igor Shesterkin (91) and Logan Thompson (90), according to EA SPORTS launch ratings. In online versus, the goalie is the one player on your team you never control, so his rating matters more than most people think. Below you will find the full top 10, what the goalie X-Factors do, and, more useful, how to score on an elite goalie when your opponent picks one.
NHL 27 goalie ratings: the top 10
All numbers below are EA SPORTS overall ratings (OVR), using the snapshot from October 23, 2026 that also powers our NHL 27 goalie ratings page. EA updates ratings during the season, so the live page is the place to check the latest values.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning: 94, X-Factor Show Stopper
- Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders: 93, X-Factor Recharge
- Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets: 92, X-Factor Dialed In
- Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers: 91, X-Factor Post to Post
- Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals: 90, X-Factor Recharge
- Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins: 89, X-Factor Show Stopper
- Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars: 88, X-Factor Sponge
- Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild: 87, X-Factor Sponge
- Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Ducks: 87, X-Factor Dialed In
- Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames: 87, X-Factor Dialed In
Just behind them sit Spencer Knight (Chicago) and Scott Wedgewood (Colorado), also at 87, and a pack of starters at 86. The gap between the number one and the number ten is seven points, which is noticeable in a 1v1 game: against a 94 you need cleaner chances than against an 87.
Three of the top four are Russian goalies. If you want the full picture of Russian players in the game, see our Russians in NHL 27 page.
What the goalie X-Factors do
Most elite goalies in NHL 27 carry one X-Factor ability. Here is what the common ones mean, based on EA descriptions:
- Show Stopper. Better reflex and second-chance saves, sees through screens and reacts to tips. This is the one that makes Vasilevskiy and Swayman so annoying: the classic screen-and-tip goal works less often.
- Dialed In. Each consecutive save boosts the goalie's accuracy and reactions. The longer he goes without conceding, the harder he gets to beat.
- Post to Post. Moves faster from post to post. Cross-crease passes, the bread and butter of online scoring, become less reliable against Shesterkin and Saros.
- Sponge. Gives up fewer rebounds and covers the puck faster. Against Oettinger or Wallstedt, crashing the net for a second shot pays off less.
- Recharge. Sorokin and Thompson have it. EA does not give a detailed in-game breakdown of it in the ratings, so we will not guess. Treat these two simply as very high-rated goalies.
You can browse every ability and see which players own it on our NHL 27 X-Factors page.
How elite goalies play in NHL 27
Before talking about beating them, it helps to know what changed. In its NHL 27 gameplay breakdown, EA says that on All-Star and Superstar difficulty goalies read shots and plays earlier, react faster, and handle slow passes through the crease better. That matters for online leagues, because competitive versus is usually played on Superstar. In the ICERANK league every match is.
EA also says X-Factor snipers no longer guarantee goals on their own at high difficulty. Team play is what creates goals.
Then there were patches. In Update 3 (October 20, 2026) EA made goalies less effective at catching the puck in a full extension and under the crossbar, cut the success rate of a popular deke on the move, and fixed the puck speed on deflections. In practical terms: rebounds stay alive more often after a stretched save, and high shots after lateral movement are a real weapon.
How to score on the best goalies in NHL 27
The rule is simple to say and hard to execute: make the goalie move before you shoot. A set goalie who sees the puck from distance saves almost everything at 87 or above.
Move the puck side to side
A fast cross-ice pass and a one-timer is still the most dangerous shot in the game, because the goalie has to travel across the crease. Against Post to Post goalies the pass has to be even quicker and the shooter must already be facing it. A slow, floating pass through the crease is exactly what EA says goalies read better now.
Always send a second player to the net
When you shoot, someone should already be driving to the crease. After Update 3, a goalie stretched out in a full save holds on to the puck less often, so the second and third shot win a lot of games. This works worse against Sponge goalies, which is a good reason to rely more on passing against them.
Shoot high after lateral movement
When the goalie drops into the butterfly or stretches after a pass, go high, under the bar or into the top corner. This is the area the patch made weaker for goalies.
Use screens, but not only screens
Low shots through a screen still work, especially on the power play. Against Show Stopper goalies, though, the screen-and-tip play is weaker by design, so mix it with plays from behind the net and cross-ice passes.
Wear him down
Goalie fatigue is worth using too. A fresh goalie who has seen a few shots is very solid, but long shifts of pressure in the offensive zone tire him out as well as the skaters. Against Dialed In goalies this also breaks the save streak that keeps boosting them.
For how ranked 1v1 games are played and scored, read our NHL 27 1v1 league guide, and if your game goes the distance, the NHL 27 overtime and shootout tips cover breakaways against top goalies.
Should you pick a team for its goalie?
In 1v1 versus, the goalie is fully AI controlled, so a higher rated one is a real advantage that does not depend on your hands. That is why clubs like Tampa Bay, the Islanders, Winnipeg and the Rangers are attractive picks for players who struggle on defense.
But do not overrate it:
- Skaters create chances. A great goalie gives you a chance to win; your forwards and defensemen still need to score.
- The gap is smaller than it looks. Most starters in the league sit between 84 and 88. Good defense in front of an 86 beats bad defense in front of a 94.
- Your opponent adapts. Against a top goalie, a smart opponent switches to passing plays and rebounds. If your defense cannot cover the slot, the rating will not save you.
In the ICERANK ladder you can pick any team in the game for each match, so it is easy to test which goalie and roster combination suits you. Our best teams page also shows how often each club actually wins in the league against real opponents, which is a more honest number than any rating.
FAQ
Who is the best goalie in NHL 27?
Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the highest rated goalie in NHL 27 with a 94 overall at launch, ahead of Ilya Sorokin (93) and Connor Hellebuyck (92). EA updates ratings during the season, so check the live goalie ratings page for current values.
What does the Show Stopper X-Factor do in NHL 27?
Show Stopper gives a goalie better reflex and second-chance saves, helps him see through screens and react to tipped shots. Against these goalies, screen and deflection plays work less often, so move the puck side to side instead.
How do you score on elite goalies in NHL 27?
Make the goalie move before you shoot: cross-ice passes into one-timers, rebounds with a second player crashing the net, and high shots after lateral movement. Long shot attempts from the point without traffic are almost always saved on Superstar.
Does the goalie rating matter in NHL 27 online versus?
Yes. In 1v1 versus the goalie is controlled by the AI, so his rating directly affects how many shots get through. Still, most starters are rated 84 to 88, and team defense in front of the goalie matters at least as much as the number.
Where can I play NHL 27 1v1 against real opponents?
ICERANK runs a free online NHL 27 league on PS5 with an Elo ladder, a season with NHL clubs and weekend cups. The community is mostly from Russia and nearby countries, matches are online versus, and cash prizes are paid in rubles.
Ready to test your shooting against a real opponent and a 94-rated goalie? Create a free account and hit Find an opponent: the matchmaker pairs you by Elo, so your first games are against players at your level.
