The Florida Panthers are an enigma, to say the least. With a +13 goal differential, they are currently one game below .500. This just doesn't make sense. They are clearly a better team than their record suggests, and a good portion of that is goaltending. To start the season Tomas Volkun was phenominal, posting back to back shutouts. Volkun will be the catalyst to success, since goal scoring seems to be sporatic. When this team scores, they score in bunches, but when they lose they seldom score more than a few.
Scott Clemmensen is a solid back up, capable of carrying a starting workload, as we all saw two years ago in New Jersey. Personally, I thought he deserved a chance to be a starter elsewhere in the league, but that's just me. Despite his losing record, he's putting up numbers relatively close to Volkun's. Good news for the Florida coaching staff. When it all comes down to it, Volkun is clearly the starter for this team, it's nice to know you have someone who will perform almost as well.
Atlanta Thrashers: Chris Mason (6-5-1, SO o, GAA 3.56, Save% .903), Ondrej Pavelec (1-1-2, SO 0, GAA 2.24, Save% .931) Peter Mannino (0-0-0, SO 0, GAA 1.58, Save% .938. relief appearance)
Atlanta opened their season with the most bizzare goaltending injury I have ever seen. For those of you who might have missed it, Pavelec passed out in the first period. He collapsed on the ice and in the process concussed himself. You can't make this kind of stuff up. Pavelec has since recovered and will look to take back the starting job from Chris Mason. The Thrashers haven't had the easiest schedule to start the season with having played divisional rivals Tampa Bay and Washington twice already, as well as games against Chicago and San Jose.
While Pavelec will reclaim his starting role, barring another collapse, Mason played well and I think his numbers are indicative of the schedule thus far. Look for the Thrashers to improve against less offensively gifted teams, and numbers to improve. Given the close, competitive nature of the Eastern conference, I still don't see this team making waves, but they could still be a spoiler.
Carolina Hurricanes: Cam Ward (8-7-0, SO 0, GAA 3.12, Save% .909) Justin Peters (0-2-0, SO 0, GAA 4.77, Save% .841)
Carolina this season has been rather inconsistent. As seen by some of their results, they are capable of getting goals in bunches, but they're also capable of being blown out of the water. In a division with teams with goal scoring threats like Washington and Tampa Bay, I can't see how this lackluster performance can help the Hurricanes. The 'Canes are more than capable of playing a better defensive game, but in all aspects of the game, this team can be better.
looking strictly at the numbers, Cam Ward is not playing that well. His save percentage is respectable, but the GAA has to come down, but that's just as much a problem with the team in front of him. With no support you're eventually going to let some get past you. Justin Peters's numbers are certainly no better, and from a backup it spells disaster. No team can afford to ride their goalie 70 games, and expect to get somewhere. With a backup putting up numbers like that, Carolina is going to have to continue to rely on Ward, and that will mean a worn out goaltender come playoff time...if they can even get that far.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Dan Ellis (4-4-2, SO 2, GAA 2.53, Save% .904) Mike Smith (4-3-0, SO 0, GAA 3.63, Save% .869)
The Lightning made off like a bandit with the off season signing of Dan Ellis this summer. Ellis might have lost his starting job to Pekka Rinne in Nashville, but that's more of a testament to the play of Rinne, rather than a blight against Ellis's record. Ellis is more than capable of being a starter or the other number one in a 1A/1B tandem situation. This is good because looking at the play of Mike Smith this season, Ellis will be the number one for the foreseeable future.
Mike Smith has been somewhat of a disappointment since coming over in the Brad Richards trade from Dallas. However, that can be attributed to the abysmal play of the team in front of him and not just himself. With that in mind, Tampa Bay has been consistently improving the last few years, and Smith seemingly, has not. If this keeps up, expect Smith who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season to find a new home come July 1.
Washington Capitals: Michal Neuvirth (11-3-1, SO 1, GAA 2.60, Save% .910) Braydon Holtby (2-0-1, SO 0, GAA 2.22, Save% .911) Semyon Varlamov 0-1-0, SO 0, GAA 2. 91, Save% .896...injured)
Two years ago the Capitals rode Semyon Varlamov to the Eastern Conference Finals, replacing one time Vezina winner Jose Theodore early into the playoff run. Again he was called upon to replace Theodore in the playoffs last year, before the Caps were eliminated by Montreal in 7 games, in which the unreal play of Jaroslav Halak was first displayed. Cut to this season where Varlamov was injured and replaced by highly touted prospect Michal Neuvirth.
Neuvirth has looked impressive backstopping the Caps to the league's best record so far. Goaltending in Washington has never been an issue, largely due to the potent, dynamic offense which is arguably the most impressive in the league. The bigger concern lies in the defense, which has been incredibly shallow in recent years. the run and gun style they play works well in the regular season, but can be stopped by a team playing solid defensive hockey. While purely speculating, it would be rather interesting if Washington began to shop Varlamov has he gets healthy. I can't honestly think that would happen, but it would be rather interesting. The Caps need solid shut down D-men to compliment the offensive minded Green. Time will tell what's going to happen there.
Carolina Hurricanes: Cam Ward (8-7-0, SO 0, GAA 3.12, Save% .909) Justin Peters (0-2-0, SO 0, GAA 4.77, Save% .841)
Carolina this season has been rather inconsistent. As seen by some of their results, they are capable of getting goals in bunches, but they're also capable of being blown out of the water. In a division with teams with goal scoring threats like Washington and Tampa Bay, I can't see how this lackluster performance can help the Hurricanes. The 'Canes are more than capable of playing a better defensive game, but in all aspects of the game, this team can be better.
looking strictly at the numbers, Cam Ward is not playing that well. His save percentage is respectable, but the GAA has to come down, but that's just as much a problem with the team in front of him. With no support you're eventually going to let some get past you. Justin Peters's numbers are certainly no better, and from a backup it spells disaster. No team can afford to ride their goalie 70 games, and expect to get somewhere. With a backup putting up numbers like that, Carolina is going to have to continue to rely on Ward, and that will mean a worn out goaltender come playoff time...if they can even get that far.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Dan Ellis (4-4-2, SO 2, GAA 2.53, Save% .904) Mike Smith (4-3-0, SO 0, GAA 3.63, Save% .869)
The Lightning made off like a bandit with the off season signing of Dan Ellis this summer. Ellis might have lost his starting job to Pekka Rinne in Nashville, but that's more of a testament to the play of Rinne, rather than a blight against Ellis's record. Ellis is more than capable of being a starter or the other number one in a 1A/1B tandem situation. This is good because looking at the play of Mike Smith this season, Ellis will be the number one for the foreseeable future.
Mike Smith has been somewhat of a disappointment since coming over in the Brad Richards trade from Dallas. However, that can be attributed to the abysmal play of the team in front of him and not just himself. With that in mind, Tampa Bay has been consistently improving the last few years, and Smith seemingly, has not. If this keeps up, expect Smith who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season to find a new home come July 1.
Washington Capitals: Michal Neuvirth (11-3-1, SO 1, GAA 2.60, Save% .910) Braydon Holtby (2-0-1, SO 0, GAA 2.22, Save% .911) Semyon Varlamov 0-1-0, SO 0, GAA 2. 91, Save% .896...injured)
Two years ago the Capitals rode Semyon Varlamov to the Eastern Conference Finals, replacing one time Vezina winner Jose Theodore early into the playoff run. Again he was called upon to replace Theodore in the playoffs last year, before the Caps were eliminated by Montreal in 7 games, in which the unreal play of Jaroslav Halak was first displayed. Cut to this season where Varlamov was injured and replaced by highly touted prospect Michal Neuvirth.
Neuvirth has looked impressive backstopping the Caps to the league's best record so far. Goaltending in Washington has never been an issue, largely due to the potent, dynamic offense which is arguably the most impressive in the league. The bigger concern lies in the defense, which has been incredibly shallow in recent years. the run and gun style they play works well in the regular season, but can be stopped by a team playing solid defensive hockey. While purely speculating, it would be rather interesting if Washington began to shop Varlamov has he gets healthy. I can't honestly think that would happen, but it would be rather interesting. The Caps need solid shut down D-men to compliment the offensive minded Green. Time will tell what's going to happen there.
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