VANCOUVER — For goaltenders, unpredictability is kryptonite. So the Vancouver Canucks have poisoned their goalies this season.

As the National Hockey League team veered dramatically towards a rebuild, the Canucks’ erratic play and inconsistent defending made it difficult for anyone to play in net. Any hope for this season ended when the only Vancouver goalie capable of being Superman, Thatcher Demko, was re-injured in November and eventually underwent major hip surgery.

Kevin Lankinen never stood a chance.

But the unpredictable environment in which he played still doesn’t fully explain the backup goalie’s underperformance this season and a statistical cratering that puts the 30-year-old near the bottom of the NHL, which is where the Canucks are, too.

Starting a five-year, $22.5-million contract he signed last season, when Lankinen rescued the Canucks during Demko’s absence, the veteran Finn has won only seven of 33 starts while posting an .877 save percentage that ranks 55th among 61 goaltenders who have played at least 20 games.

Fancier stats, like goals-saved above expected, from various analytics websites also place Lankinen near the bottom of the NHL.

Lankinen has been dealing with a private family issue that caused him to take a brief leave of absence in November.

His last win was Jan. 21.

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But Lankinen returned last month from the Olympics with a bronze medal and positive feelings after backing up Team Finland starter Juuse Saros, and last week put together his best consecutive Canuck starts........

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