Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
Play until you lose. I like it. Give the goalies a chance to run their hot streak and improve consistency.
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That is what I think too! I think either one of these goalies has a chance to become a decent #1. I feel way more comfortable watching either one out there than the last 8 year's worth of backups (which isn't saying much, I know), but the point being is that they at least look like fringe NHL tenders, with a possibility of becoming stable and even good! They both show moments of making great saves and being able to recover from multiple shots.
I think you won't be really able to read either one of these goalies fully until the 20-25 game mark played each. There is simply no denying that they have both been improving, and I don't mean just statistically. I think they are both making less mistakes and they are both showing better positioning and composure. How much more they show is the question, but they are both progressing.
I do think they can provide the Flames with stable goaltending until Gillies or even someone else steps up and becomes a sure-fire starter, but I also don't think that either one of these goalies should be crossed off from that possibility themselves! Let's just see what they look like for the rest of this season, and see if they continue to improve and make fewer mistakes out there as the season wears on.
I also really want to see Ortio at some point this season to see how he stacks up against them, and see how he stacks up against NHL-level shooters on nightly basis. He is looking great at the AHL level, has looked great in Finland, looked great at the WJC - I think it is important organizationally to see how close or far he is from the NHL.