Rookie goaltenders have had success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before – most notably with Ken Dryden in 1971 and Patrick Roy in 1986, each leading the Montreal Canadiens to the Cup – but by no means before has a crop of rookie goalies dominated the playoffs like they have this season.
Of the five remaining teams in this yr’s playoffs, three are led by rookie goalies and another by a first-year starter. Carolina’s Cam Ward, Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, Anaheim’s Ilya Bryzgalov, and San Jose’s Vesa Toskala have all loved unbelievable playoff success thus far.
Seven-year veteran Dwayne Roloson of the Edmonton Oilers, who was acquired in a mid-season commerce with the Minnesota Wild, is the one experienced goaltender left. I don’t suppose anybody would have predicted that, particularly with the presence of such large-identify goalies as Martin Brodeur and Miikka Kiprusoff, and different veteran backstops or NHL powerhouses like Detroit’s Manny Legace, Dallas’s Marty Turco, and Colorado’s Jose Theodore, among the many contenders.
The New Favorite
Due to a surprisingly simple 4 games to 1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, and a dominating efficiency profitable 4 straight video games over Montreal after losing the first two in Round 1, the Carolina Hurricanes have emerged as the new favorite to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. Regardless of ending the common season with 112 points, simply 1 behind Jap Convention chief Ottawa, the Hurricanes’ odds of profitable the Cup coming into the playoffs were posted at 10-1. That was before the oddsmakers had seen Ward turn away almost every shot he’s faced.
In 10 playoff games, the 22-yr-previous rookie has allowed just 17 goals whereas posting a 1.seventy seven goals towards common (GAA). Ward let in simply 5 goals in Carolina’s four victories over New Jersey as he outplayed his boyhood idol Brodeur. Along with his stellar play, and the Hurricanes’ opportunistic offense, led by one hundred-level scorer Eric Staal, Carolina can be tough to beat.
The Upstart Challenger
The weight of a Sitemap
The Sabres’ Miller is the one U.S.-born goalie among the many Fab Four. He hopes to duplicate the feat of one other rookie American goalie, Ron Hextall, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1987. After a shaky start in Recreation 1 against Ottawa, Buffalo’s protection and Miller shut down the Senators the rest of the way, allowing two or fewer goals in each of the last 4 games. The Michigan native has a 2.25 GAA and a .921 save percentage within the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Buffalo’s defense has been stellar in front of Miller. Defensemen Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder lead all playoff performers in plus/minus at plus-13. The Sabres’ offense has been scoring in bunches. Buffalo has a workforce-leading forty three objectives scored in 11 games and is driving excessive after winger Jason Pominville’s shorthanded, additional time goal clinched the collection towards Ottawa.
Mr. Excellent – Nearly
Anaheim’s Bryzgalov has been the most stunning and impressive of all the rookies. Bryzgalov didn’t even enter the playoffs because the Geese’ No. 1 goalie. That honor went to Jean-Sebastian Giguere, who led Anaheim to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003, his second year within the league, and was named the Conn Smythe winner as the MVP of the playoffs that season.
After splitting their first four games towards Calgary in Spherical 1, the Geese made the change to Bryzgalov and they haven’t regretted it. The 24-year-outdated Russian has virtually stood on his head as he is sporting a ridiculous 0.87 GAA and .967 save percentage. He recorded three straight shutouts, together with Game 7 at Calgary to clinch that series. In doing so, Bryzgalov set a rookie playoff record, holding opponents scoreless for 249 minutes, 15 seconds. Solely Montreal’s George Hainsworth, 270:08 in 1930, has had an extended playoff scoreless streak.
The Ultimate Four
San Jose’s Toskala is hoping to join his fellow first-yr netminders in the convention finals. After an excellent collection against Nashville in Spherical 1, together with a shutout in Sport 2, and two 2-1 victories to open the Edmonton series, Toskala and the Sharks find themselves on the ropes because the Oilers have stormed back to take a three-2 series lead. Edmonton will attempt to shut it out at dwelling on Wednesday night.
San Jose’s offense is led by Patrick Marleau, who leads all playoff objective scorers with nine. The Sharks will need to get an early lead and assist Toskala defend it to pressure a Sport 7 at residence on Friday.
The Finals
The matchup between Ward and Miller ought to be as entertaining because it gets. Both are able to stealing a sport or for their respective teams. Carolina is the favorite, but Buffalo has a variety of momentum and Miller has shown he can win the close games with 4 one-aim victories in opposition to Ottawa. Search for the Sabres to get to the Finals.
The Geese have had a long time off after unexpectedly sweeping the Avalanche. Anaheim could also be somewhat rusty to begin the convention finals, but the Ducks have good veteran leadership in Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne and will journey the stellar play of Bryzgalov past either the Oilers or the Sharks to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
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