Quote:
Originally Posted by GFG#1
So going into the shootout last night, you were confident Markstrom was going to stop more attempts than Saros?
The first attempt looked like a routine save, Markstrom looked behind him, the puck hit the post. The second attempt he stuck with the shooter, but the puck still went under his pad, lucky enough it bounced across instead of towards the net. 3rd went in, but Markstrom had his glove on it, and should have been able to at least block it.
Same with Vancouver game, there was no way he was going to outduel Demko in the shootout. He has been the second best goalie on the ice all season, and you can say he needs more run support, and maybe that is true. But he has to be able to make a save when the team needs it more often than not.
he has 12 OT/SO losses this year, he makes that 1 more save in half those games the Playoffs are clinched last week. an .892 save % is not good enough for a starting goalie in the NHL. he is tied for 48th in Save % every goalie ahead of him has played at least 20 games. 31 goalies ahead of him have played 30+ games. The flames probably make the playoffs by a clear margin if he has a .900 save%
I honestly do not understand how anyone can be defending Markstrom's play this year. Has there been other issues, absolutely, however, in at least 10 of the flames losses with Markstrom in net the team in front of him has played well enough to win. Which if he even holds down the fort in 5 of those they are in the playoffs.
Some of the blame should ride on Sutter for continually playing him, by the time he decided to ride Vladar his game had fallen off, but early in the season when he was hot had he been given a few more starts it is likely the Flames would be in a playoff spot as well.
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Going into the shootout I thought, as I always do, it's pretty random. Markstrom has a size advantage which is useful in a shootout where it's just one on one with no pass across. But the facts are that, after two shooter, Markstrom had the Flames in aposition to win the game on the third Flames shooter. Ritchie scores (or whoever else you might argue should have been in), the Flames don't even face a third shooter.
Anbd then once again, as if to prove my point, you are looking at a single game, and then using season long performance to argue something which I never even discussed. The OP on this point said "oh look at Saros - he put his team in a position to win". Well, so did Markstrom.
You want to discuss the season, fine. Markstrom was way below his career and way below the league in save%, and he was no good at stopping grade A chances allowed by the team early in games. I've not seen anyone argue differently. So what are you fussing about?