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Time For A Two Goalie System?
by PuckStopsHere on 11/30/08 at 07:08 AM ET
Comments (5)
The San Jose Sharks have been the best team in the NHL so far this year. Their 20-4 record (with one regulation tie point) gives them 41 points and first place in the NHL. However, all is not perfect in San Jose. Their number one goalie Evgeni Nabokov has yet to play particularly well. He is sporting a .896 saves percentage, which has a lot to be desired. His other numbers do not look so bad. He has a 2.57 GAA and a 13-2 record. This is a testament to how well the Sharks have played in front of him. Nevertheless, his goaltending will become an issue if he continues to play at that level. It is impossible to have prolonged success in the NHL without better goaltending.
The solution is obvious. When Nabokov was injured, backup goaltender Brian Boucher played extremely well. Boucher has a .928 saves percentage and a 1.89 GAA. Since Boucher was the temporary number one goalie, his better numbers are not a function of playing against weaker competition.
San Jose would probably benefit by using a two goalie system right now. Boucher is the hot hand and has not played in a little over a week since Nabokov returned from injury. His last game was November 22nd vs. Washington.
Nabokov has the better track record and is more likely to be a longterm number one goalie, but Boucher has a record as a streaky goalie. He had five straight shutouts in 2004 with the Phoenix Coyotes. It would be in San Jose’s best interests to give Boucher the chance to play while he is playing well. The rest that Nabokov has now may be valuable when the playoffs role around. Nabokov played an incredible 77 games last season but was unable to last through the playoffs. Much more rested goalies in Chris Osgood and Marc-Andre Fleury battled it out in the Stanley Cup finals as Nabokov and the sharks were eliminated in the second round.
San Jose has a very good team this year. They have put up a first place record despite mediocre goaltending from their starter Evgeni Nabokov. When Brian Boucher is playing well, it would make more sense to use a two goalie system in San Jose than to go back to Nabokov exclusively. If Nabokov continues his lackluster play, I expect San Jose will not continue their winning ways. They can be overtaken by other top teams.
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Tags: Brian+Boucher, Evgeni+Nabokov, San+Jose+Sharks,
Comments
He’s on an 8 game winning streak with a .915. The Sharks were working their kinks out of their D early but have played better as of late. Nabokov has been very solid if not stellar this year already, but is just hitting his stride after taking enough time to recover from his minor injury. There will not be a goalie controversy in SJ.
Posted by RockTheTank8 on 12/01/08 at 02:02 AM ET
It is interesting that even when you cherrypick the games to give Nabokov decent stats (in the past 8 games...), Boucher is putting up better numbers.
All I am saying is that the Sharks should play Boucher more right now. They should employ a two goalie system. There is a lot of room between that and a “goalie contreversy”.
Posted by PuckStopsHere on 12/01/08 at 03:42 AM ET
1) We have said in the past that teams with 2 decent goalies have an advantage. We found out by looking back the last 4 years that teams who’s starting goalie played less than 60 games were the ones who made the NHL Final 4!
Posted by Faux Rumors from Globally- Here, there, Everywhere on 12/01/08 at 08:57 AM ET
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There was a stretch early in the season when the Sharks played atrocious team defense which really hurt Nabokovs numbers. Remember Nabokov along with a good portion of the team have played under Ron Wilson’s system for about 5 years, and as well as things have gone for San Jose the team did not instantly adopt Todd McLellens new system without any growing pains.
If memory serves Nabokov also tends to elevate his game during the playoffs.
Nabokov career regular season = .910 save % and 2.38 GAA
Nabokov career playoff numbers = .917 save % and 2.17 GAA
Posted by anonanon on 11/30/08 at 08:21 AM ET