In order to win a Stanley Cup, a team needs outstanding goal tending, or at the worst, solid net minding. This is not a news flash. However, consider the following inquiries: Is the goaltending position in the NHL overrated? Does a team REALLY need a marquee goaltender (i.e. Ryan Miller) to win the top prize in hockey? 

 

The 2009-2010 Stanley Cup playoffs prove that big name goalies are not necessarily better than less experienced and lower paid ones. Prior to the post-season, did any so-called expert suggest Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher of the Flyers would be one-two in terms of playoff goals against average (GAA) for the entire league? In fact, many of these experts placed a huge question mark beside Chicago’s Antti Niemi, who just happens to be the leader in wins and in the top five of all major goaltending categories. I distinctively remember critics, like the bombastic Don Cherry, calling for the Hawks to switch to Cristobal Huet after Niemi’s first game 5-1 loss to Vancouver. Isn’t it funny that Cherry does not revisit this subject now? 

By the way, who is in the Stanley Cup final?

 

Montreal had a great ride and pulled off upsets of Washington and Pittsburgh thanks in large part to the goaltending of Jaroslav Halak and his sparkling .923 save percentage. Most hockey fans will remember that Halak was slated as Carey Price’s back up this season and then he was going to be dealt to another team in the summer. How times have quickly changed.

 

Now, let's look on the other side. Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Marc Andre Fleury wore Canadian colors at the Olympics. In other words, these goaltenders represented the elite of the elite. It just so happens that none of the three falls in the top 10 of the two key statistical categories, goals against average and save percentage. In addition, none advanced past the second round.

Moreover, Brodeur, Ryan Miller, and Ilya Bryzgalov are the finalists for the Vezina trophy, which indicates they were the three best goalies in the league during the regular season. To refresh your memory, none advanced to round two. Wasn’t Bryzgalov the main reason Phoenix had a terrific regular season? In the playoffs, I doubt he is proud to be number 12 in save percentage and number 15 in GAA. 

 

After the Olympics, Miller was considered the world’s best goalie. While his save percentage and GAA numbers are good, his most telling stat is a 2-4 playoff record. Those two wins tie him for 12th. 

 

The goalie with arguably the most on the line in the post-season was Evgeni Nabokov since he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 35-year-old has long been considered a great regular season stopper but one that has struggled in the clutch. His Olympic meltdown certainly did not enhance his resume. 

 

However, Nabokov does get some credit for helping San Jose reach the conference final but it was evident he was the second best goalie in the Chicago series to Niemi. (Didn’t Alain Vigneault say the same thing about the great Luongo in the Canucks-Hawks match-up?). Nabokov is just seventh in GAA and 11th in save percentage. So, on July 1st, should a team pursue Nabokov for huge cap dollars or take a flyer (pardon the pun) on Leighton who also becomes a UFA. Who really is the better deal? 

I am not suggesting that the big name goalies have not earned their reputation for being excellent number one net minders. However, let us be honest-this year’s playoffs are a clear example that you do not always get what you pay for.


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I want to offer my congratulations to Opinion250.com President Ben Meisner for his appointment to the B.C. Law Society. The Law Society of B.C. is the regulatory body for the BC legal profession. So there is a lawyer on one hand and “Gentle” Ben on the other. Pity anybody else trying to get a word in edge wise.

 

 

Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith lost seven teeth in Chicago's series-clincher over the Sharks and told reporters it felt like his mouth was missing. I'm thinking this is probably not a sensation TSN's Pierre McGuire has ever had.

www.Sportsdeke.com

 

With the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL finals, some people are again claiming that the team's name is derogatory towards Indians. On the other hand, PETA is claiming after San Jose's latest quick exit, that THEIR team name is derogatory towards sharks.

 

The Oakland Raiders have filed a grievance against JaMarcus Russell, seeking back almost $10 million of the money they have paid him, presumably because of his disappointing and uninspired performance. Is this a great idea? If the judge rules in the team’s favor, how long before season ticket holders in turn file a grievance against the Raiders?

Kendry Morales of the Angels fractured his leg when he fell while jumping on home plate after his game winning grand-slam. Forget walk-offs, this may go down in history as MLB’s first “carted-off” home run.
Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
Americans celebrated Memorial Day Monday, which is the unofficial start of summer. And the official end of the Pirates' season.

 

 The inaugural national strip poker tournament in Germany went so well that organizers want to hold a world-wide event. They can expect a full house as spectators ante up to see who's got the biggest pair.

Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post
Tyreke Evans, Sacramento's reigning Rookie of the Year, was cited for reckless driving after police say they clocked him driving more than 100 miles an hour down a California highway.
Probably not the fast-break offense the Kings had in mind.

 

 

 

NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings was clocked driving more than 100 miles per hour. Have you ever been to Sacramento? Anyone who’s been there knows you can’t get out of town fast enough.

The outfit Venus Williams wore at the French Open replaced the Eiffel Tower as Paris’ most amazing feat of engineering.

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

According to In Touch magazine, Serena Williams and rapper/actor Common have split after two years of courtship. I guess she found out they had nothing in Common.

 

Joe Namath, celebrating his 67th birthday recently, says he plans to be around until he turns 100. Of course, kissing Suzy Kolber won't do much for him then.

Britney Spears wants her body cryogenically frozen so she can be brought back to life later. Just what she needs: another meltdown. 

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

Adidas is vigorously defending the quality of the ball it has made for the World Cup saying it is the roundest ball ever made. This is the 1st time a scandal has erupted over balls at the World Cup not attached to a player.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger is being criticized for throwing the game pucks in the trash from the first two games against the Blackhawks. Pronger says this is in honour of his teenage years when he would throw away the rubber when he couldn’t score. 

Calgarian Jamie Kureluk shot a record 25 on the back nine of a Canadian Tour golf event. Jamie credits watching the Flames all year as they showed him how to consistently play under par. 

Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

 

Details about the contract agreement between the CFL and the CFL Players Association have not been released but insiders suggest that each full time player will benefit with an additional 5000 Save on More Points, ten free car wash coupons and five two for one passes to their favorite movie theatre.