Rest coming for Markstrom?

[transplant99]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1516897154006077440

[Nammer403]

I hope he gets rest there's a few games lately I wish he had rested

[looooob]

I know the answer is 'Sutter doesn't care'...but do you think it is in a goalie (versus a shooter I suppose) best interest to face future opponents or not (somewhat akin to familiarity with pitchers and hitters)


in other words, is it possible that Dallas and Nashville see mostly Vladar and if so who would that benefit in the playoffs (rest for Markstrom aside) ?

[Bingo]

Has to be part of it ... Vladar getting the two starts in Denver too.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by transplant99

https://twitter.com/user/status/1516897154006077440

This is what I had guessed — give Markstrom the Vancouver game and Vladar gets all the potential round 1 matchups (2x Nashville, Dallas).

For the back to back, I’d play Markstrom against Minnesota (even though they’re the tougher opponent) so he’s locked in and ready for Game 1.

[btimbit]

Makes sense. Didn't Sutter mention at some point about wanting Markstrom to play around 62 games?

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Makes sense. Didn't Sutter mention at some point about wanting Markstrom to play around 62 games?

He made it clear it meant more about the minutes and not actual starts.

He has started 61 games but his minutes are 3575.

3575 mins/60 mins per game = 57.66 games

He could basically play another 4 full games and not go over Sutter’s allotted minutes.

I don’t think he will play 4 of the 5 remaining games even though only one is a back-to-back but technically he could.

[FanIn80]

With Monny on LTI, we must have enough cap space now to call up a goalie. If so, my preference would be to not even dress Markstrom for games against playoff teams. That's an even better rest for him, and he can sit up top and study the opposing shooters live.

Edit: After looking at the schedule, I wouldn't dress him again until the last game of the season vs WPG. We've got two games at home vs DAL and VAN (doesn't dress for both) and then he goes on the road with the team vs NSH and MIN (doesn't dress for both) and then starts vs WPG. Then the whole team is back home to get ready for the playoffs.

[GranteedEV]

I think rest for Markstrom is paramount. He's 32 years old, and if you look at cup winning goalies over the last decade:

69 Games (Quick - Age 26)
30 Games (Crawford - Age 28)
49 Games (Quick - Age 28)
57 Games (Crawford - Age 30)
47 Games (Murray - Age 21)
38 / 49 Games (Fleury - Age 32/Murray - Age 22)
54 Games - Holtby (Age 28)
48 Games - Binnington (Age 25)
52 Games - Vasilevskiy (Age 25)
42 Games - Vasilevskiy (Age 25)

Only 2012 Quick played as many games, and he was a fair bit younger. Vasilevskiy had projected to play more games in 2019-20 but ended up having a four-ish month break from hockey before the play-ins began.

It's tough enough that come playoff time, Markstrom will have to play every other night at age 32, where his body isn't recovering as fast as a 26 year old. Any other minor nicks and bruises could be the difference between a series win or loss.

They need to set him up to succeed.

[Goriders]

Also doesn’t let dallas or nashville get a live read on Markstrom

[Mathgod]

The schedule since the covid break has been very condensed, so the more nights off Markstrom gets for the rest of the month, the better.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Let’s talk about goalie utilization a bit. I think that the Flames can afford to rest Markstrom and if they think they may need to, they should.

I want to talk about why I think they should trust Vladar.
I personally think Vladar has been *really* good this year. I like his positioning, tracking, post play, and composure. He came out of the gate setting a Flames record with points in his first 6 starts, going 5-0-1. Three of those games were against Washington, Boston and Toronto. (2 wins plus a OTL)

Then some people lost a bit of confidence in him. Let’s take a closer look there

His first loss came against SJ December 7, allowing 4, and that was his body of work prior to the team being shut down for Covid. 5-1-1

After that long shutdown, the Flames embarked on the road trip where they faced TB, Florida and Carolina. The team was still shaking off the rust from the Covid shutdown, and got absolutely destroyed those 3 games, then lost a 4th in a row to Ottawa.

During that 4 game losing streak, Markstrom gave up 6 to Florida, Vladar gave up 4 to TB and 6 to Carolina, and Markstrom gave up 4 to Ottawa.

Ugly stuff on the whole, for the team, and let’s be clear - both goalies got similar results.

Other than that, he has had two games that were not good for his stats, IMO. Both of those were relief efforts, where the team flat out stunk, and Markstrom got pulled.
- 7-1 Vancouver, when the team were destroyed and he and Markstrom split the damage
- 6-1 Vegas, where Markstrom had let in 4, then he let in 2 of 8 shots

So what I’m getting at there is that I quite honestly don’t see much of a drop off from Markstrom to Vladar.

Let’s appreciate that this guy is really not being sheltered, at all

In fact, Markstrom’s last 6 starts have all been against non playoff teams:
Anaheim, Seattle x2, Vegas, Arizona and Chicago

Vladar’s last 6 starts, meanwhile, have included 4 playoff teams:
Colorado x2, Washington, Nashville, Vancouver and SJ


Look at the 10 game sequence of opponents from Mar 1-18:

- Vladar - 3 starts - Colorado x2, Washington
- Markstrom - 7 starts - Min, Mtl, Edmonton, TB, Detroit, NJ, Buffalo

We all know which goalie is the number 1. They are going to lean on Marky in the playoffs, and if they need to rest him, they should do it. They have shown they trust Vladar, IMO, by the starts they have given him, and he has responded - he is 11-5-2.

So whatever it takes so Markstrom is fresh and ready, they should do it

Also, Dan Frickin’ Vladar.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

With Monny on LTI, we must have enough cap space now to call up a goalie. If so, my preference would be to not even dress Markstrom for games against playoff teams. That's an even better rest for him, and he can sit up top and study the opposing shooters live.

Edit: After looking at the schedule, I wouldn't dress him again until the last game of the season vs WPG. We've got two games at home vs DAL and VAN (doesn't dress for both) and then he goes on the road with the team vs NSH and MIN (doesn't dress for both) and then starts vs WPG. Then the whole team is back home to get ready for the playoffs.

Those are really long breaks. Don’t want our starter to get out of the groove with a game a week.

Dress him on Saturday against the Canucks and then dress him on Thursday against Wild is what I think would be better.

[timbit]

Just my opinion.

That is a hugely experienced coaching staff.

One would suspect they’ll come up with the right starting ratios, before the playoffs.

[agulati]

Originally Posted by timbit

Just my opinion.

That is a hugely experienced coaching staff.

One would suspect they’ll come up with the right starting ratios, before the playoffs.

No no. We obviously have a better handle on such decisions. Throw up a poll for Sutter’s benefit please.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Also, Dan Frickin’ Vladar.

Vladar has done everything asked of him, that is for sure. He has been a great backup all season, regardless of utilization.

As has Markstrom, obviously

Assessing the season overall, goaltending has to get a 9 out of 10.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by looooob

I know the answer is 'Sutter doesn't care'...but do you think it is in a goalie (versus a shooter I suppose) best interest to face future opponents or not (somewhat akin to familiarity with pitchers and hitters)


in other words, is it possible that Dallas and Nashville see mostly Vladar and if so who would that benefit in the playoffs (rest for Markstrom aside) ?

Originally Posted by Bingo

Has to be part of it ... Vladar getting the two starts in Denver too.

it probably makes no difference, as all teams have full books on all starters in the NHL. But I like it though, because I think the one thing that it does do is eliminate the scenario where the goalie gets shelled by that team, or lets in a stinker or two.

You don't want to create any situation where the goalie has any bad vibes, so just keep him out of those games. Also, it can act as a bit of a rub on the other team, getting the backup all the time.

I liked that Sutter played Vladar against the Avs twice and against NAS this week, and I hope he plays him against DAL and NAS again.

As I said, probably makes no difference at all in the end, but it's fun to get the mind games going, (and to ensure against the possibility of a bad game).

[kyuss275]

My guess is that he starts tonight , then next game will be the wild. That gives him a week off and a game before the playoffs start.

[Bingo]

Goalies sorted by minutes

Name TIME
Juuse Saros 3836
Connor Hellebuyck 3784
Thatcher Demko 3584
Jacob Markström 3576
Andrei Vasilevski 3521
Tristan Jarry 3415
John Gibson 3156
Frederik Andersen 3071
Marc-Andre Fleury 3044
Alexander Nedeljkovic 3032


Goalies sorted by intense minutes (inverted xGF%)

Name Intense
Juuse Saros 1,953
Connor Hellebuyck 1,909
Thatcher Demko 1,791
John Gibson 1,699
Andrei Vasilevski 1,669
Alexander Nedeljkovic 1,652
Elvis Merzlikins 1,641
Philipp Grubauer 1,596
Tristan Jarry 1,580
Jacob Markström 1,568

Saros has 25% more intense minutes that Markstrom, Vasilevski 6% more.

Kuemper at 84%, Shestyorkin at 86%.

[Enoch Root]

1) I am pleased to see Saros at the top of the list - hope he is getting worn out

2) Saros is 5 years younger than Markstrom