Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
The three Vezina candidates this year were all sent packing, plus other elite goalies like Oettinger, Binnington, and Thompson. Based on regular season save%, the #4 and #20 goalies left in the finals. I think long gone are the days when a team could be talent deficient and ride goalies while focusing on defense. With out elite top line centers, you just aren't going to get there no matter who you have in net.
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Yeah, the ‘ride an elite/hot goalie and otherwise average roster to the Cup’ strategy doesn’t have a great hit rate. The Blues in 2019, and before that you have… the Hurricanes in 2006? Powerhouse teams today are all pretty good defensively, so you’ll just get shut down offensively with a roster plucky underdogs and a goalie standing on his head. As you say, you can find a lot more teams who make the finals without elite goaltending than without a true #1C.