With the Olympic break coming up, I have been hearing a lot of talk about the importance of goal tending.
I find it peculiar that not many people have brought up the issue of goal tending with two cup favorites in the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago's starter in Cristobal Huet would be a bigger question mark next to any team but the Blackhawks this season; but a .903 save percentage doesn't come with luck either. The upcoming postseason may very well define him. Chicago has another significant advantage over Washington - they have actually chosen a number one goaltender.
The Caps rotate Varlamov .924 and Jose Theodore .906 but are either of these
goalkeepers capable of leading a team to the Finals and winning Lord Stanley's Cup?
If neither team makes a change in net before the deadline, I have trouble keeping them as favorites.
Chicago stands to have cap problems next season - why not solve two problems at once?
Washington has managed to win games in which they give up too many goals, simply because of the pure amount of firepower they have on the ice - but does that stand up going into a game 7 against, say, Brodeur and the Devils? I think Turco is still available.
With San Jose in the West's top seed with Evgeni Nabokov, and Last year's champion Penguins trying for a top four seed in the East with Fleury, they stand as my favorites unless General Managers Stan Bowman (Hawks) or George McPhee(Caps) make a big move.
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Chicago's goals against is lowest in the west. I wouldn't be changing anything right now. San Jose will choke yet again anyway. I agree Washington needs to change goalies to have a chance. I would love a matchup of Chicago vs. New Jersey.
ReplyDeleteIn the East, I feel Washington will overcome it's lack of a clear number one by simply riding the "Hot" goalie and outscoring all oppnents as they've done all year.
ReplyDeleteIn the West,as much as I'd like to see it ,I don't think the Hawks and local boy Joel Quenville will reach the final. Huet has been outstanding but I still see them falling just a bit shy of playing for the Cup.Call it the Hossa curse or needing one more year to gel and mature. I do see perennial chokers San Jose finally getting the monkey of their back to get to the Ship. Nabby has been a workhorse in net all year and has been a beast on the road which you need to steal a victory or two every series.