NHL Goalie Thread

[EagerBeaver]

Everyone knows that Martin Brodeur is the best and most battle tested goalie in the NHL, but we are now at a stage of the NHL playoffs where one goalie can get red hot and carry his team to the Stanley Cup. Which of the 4 goalies listed in this poll has the best chance to do this and drink with his teammates from the Cup?

We have in the poll two guys from Montreal, an American and a Swede, all looking to taste his first sip from the Cup.

 

[EagerBeaver]

No votes for Lundqvist? Show Henrik some love baby!

 

[eastender]

What about...........

What about Ray Emery and Evgeni Nabokov? The winner of the Dallas/Vancouver series will have major fatigue problems down the road.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Eastender,

I picked the 4 Cup-less goalies that I expect to have the best chance to get hot and lead their team to the Cup, based on recent and regular season performances of these goalies and their respective teams.

 

[joelcairo]

Luongo is easily the best of these 4 goalies but he does not have the best team. The team with the best shot of these 4 is Anaheim (second choice Buffalo).

 

[EagerBeaver]

What about Ray Emery and Evgeni Nabokov? The winner of the Dallas/Vancouver series will have major fatigue problems dow the road.

In looking more closely at the stats of these two players, if I am inclined to admit I overlooked someone it might be Emery. He is very young (24) and untested at this stage of his career, and although his GAA is a bit higher then the the other goalies mentioned above, his regular season save % of .918 is certainly very good. If I am not mistaken, he is also the only black starting goalie in the NHL, correct? I am not counting Kevin Weekes who falls into the journeyman/backup category.

Lundqvist is also young but he has won an Olympic gold medal for Sweden, and as I recall he was absolutely brillant in the Olympics in the big games. Jiggy, Luongo and Miller are also slightly more seasoned goalies than Emery and Lundqvist, with Jiggy having that unbelievable run a few years back when he was named playoff MVP. I gave Lundqvist the nod over Emery due to the gold medal that hangs around his neck.

I don't think Nabokov can get red hot and win a series for San Jose like some of these others guys may be able to do.

 

[eastender]

Another Consideration

EB,

Another consideration is the back-up goalie.Anaheim,SJ are much further ahead in this regard.This could be an important factor for a game if tired or a minor injury.

You are correct re Emery.