Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
History has shown you can win with an average goalie. Niemi, Osgood, Tim Thomas just to name a few.
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Tim Thomas had a .938 save percentage that season - the 4th best single season number in NHL history.
Then followed that up with a .940 save percentage in the playoffs.
Thomas at his peak for that 4-5 seasons stretch was much better than an "average goalie".
Even Osgood had some weird ability to step it up in the playoffs - he was a career .916 save percentage come playoff time. From that same era two of the best goalies ever in Roy (.918) and Brodeur (.919) had very similar numbers in the playoffs. He was very average in the regular season with only a .905 career save percentage in the regular season but came up big in the playoffs.
Niemi is the one that is decidedly average - but that Chicago Blackhawks team was stacked.
I'm not sure you need an "elite goalie" but you certainly do need "elite goaltending" for that playoff run. Even it if's just a guy riding a hot streak.