[News] Save percentage on the decline despite better goaltending - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FanIn80 · 10-20-2023, 01:52 PM

Quote:

A collective .904 save percentage in the NHL last season as Exhibit A.

It was the lowest League-wide save percentage in 18 seasons since a .901 in 2005-06, but that came after the 2004-05 cancelled season led to smaller goalie equipment and new rules to reduce defensive interference. Save percentage mostly rose during the following 10 seasons, peaking at .915 in 2014-15 and 2015-16 before beginning a steady, seven-season decline through last season.

"If anything, goaltending is getting better. The game is just harder," Vancouver Canucks backup Casey DeSmith said.

https://www.nhl.com/news/unmasked-sa...er-goaltending

Not specifically about Markstrom, but it this is the picture from the article and it's an interesting topic. Can we really compare recent sv% to the benchmarks we all have in our heads (.910-.920 = good)?

Maybe we're just in a new era. One more similar to when it wasn't really about stopping everything, just the important ones. Like when you're up by one or down by one, or for the next 5 mins after scoring... end of periods, etc. Winning 4-3 is easier to do when none of the 3 goals are back-breakers.

In other words, the Grant Fuhr days.

Samonadreau · 10-20-2023, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Not specifically about Markstrom, but it this is the picture from the article and it's an interesting topic. Can we really compare recent sv% to the benchmarks we all have in our heads (.910-.920 = good)?

Maybe we're just in a new era. One more similar to when it wasn't really about stopping everything, just the important ones. Like when you're up by one or down by one, or for the next 5 mins after scoring... end of periods, etc. Winning 4-3 is easier to do when none of the 3 goals are back-breakers.

In other words, the Grant Fuhr days.

There were tons of goalies with .910+ save percentages last season. Its a combination of team defence and the goalie stopping the puck. Goal scoring is up, but we are not back in the 80's.

blankall · 10-20-2023, 01:57 PM

The equipment rule changes are also a factor.

Samonadreau · 10-20-2023, 02:06 PM

Last season out of Goalies that played minimum of 22 games, Vladar was 45/56 and Markstrom was 46/56.

Thats probably the best way to gauge it year to year - too see where they rank amongst other goaltenders.

Will probably need a minimum of 10 games each to see how they are settling in this season.

ComixZone · 10-20-2023, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Last season out of Goalies that played minimum of 22 games, Vladar was 45/56 and Markstrom was 46/56.

Thats probably the best way to gauge it year to year - too see where they rank amongst other goaltenders.

Will probably need a minimum of 10 games each to see how they are settling in this season.

Yep.

We can't just say "oh save percentage is down so Marky and Vladdy are fine". It's a competitive sport, so the mark for success is directly related to how the rest of their field performs.

Being 45th and 46th out of 56 is flat out unacceptable performance levels.

PepsiFree · 10-20-2023, 02:12 PM

“Not specifically about Markstrom”

“OK BUT MARKSTROM WAS STILL BAD!”

lol

EVERLAST · 10-20-2023, 02:22 PM

Yeah not only equipment changes to the goalies but the game has changed and shooters have changed with these crazy sticks where wrist and snap shots are bullets and have pinpoint accuracy.

If the goalie isn't playing like a velcro loving hoover vacuum and his D aren't able to clear rebounds and let him see the shot he's kinda screwed.

This is what I love about Wolf . He's really In control for the most part....NOT PERFECT....but he's demonstrated he's earned his shot IMO .

But at the end of the day goalies are still only as good as the team in front of them for wins, save %

That goalie though might be a student of the game and understanding who's shooting when they see certain players bearing down on them helps allot too.

I'm sick of shootouts. The goalie is at such a disadvantage so that has to play.into a goalies confidence.....something I don't think you can measure.

Markstrom 2 years ago and.last year have to be looked at as an small example.

I hope we have 3 Goalies with a little swagger by mid season so the nerves of this fan aren't shot by playoffs .

The Yen Man · 10-20-2023, 02:22 PM

Last year, Flames routinely outshot their opponents, but rarely out chanced them in high danger chances against. So they were regularly padding the stats of whichever goalie they played against, and screwing the stats of their own goalie. Markstrom / Vladar didn't help themselves either with their mediocre play, but Flames overall system contributed to their poor goalie stats.

dino7c · 10-20-2023, 02:25 PM

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Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Last year, Flames routinely outshot their opponents, but rarely out chanced them in high danger chances against. So they were regularly padding the stats of whichever goalie they played against, and screwing the stats of their own goalie. Markstrom / Vladar didn't help themselves either with their mediocre play, but Flames overall system contributed to their poor goalie stats.

this is beyond false...you obviously don't check those stats often

I do almost every game, Flames had more HD chances in the vast majority of their games

the goalies sucked balls

Shazam · 10-20-2023, 02:29 PM

The key is to fatten up the goaltenders.

Paulie Walnuts · 10-20-2023, 02:36 PM

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Originally Posted by dino7c

this is beyond false...you obviously don't check those stats often

I do almost every game, Flames had more HD chances in the vast majority of their games

the goalies sucked balls

No he is right.

The Flames almost always out shot the opponents to start games but playing around the perimeter and tossing softies at them and would give up a breakaway, odd man rush, or a easy slot chance as the first few shots on our goalie which went in a lot.

They had a stat that the 4-5 3rd stringers got their first win in the NHL vs the Flames often with an over exaggerated save % because of the volume of shots.

Markstrom could have been better for sure but he wasn't the reason our season went sideways.

FanIn80 · 10-20-2023, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Last year, Flames routinely outshot their opponents, but rarely out chanced them in high danger chances against. So they were regularly padding the stats of whichever goalie they played against, and screwing the stats of their own goalie. Markstrom / Vladar didn't help themselves either with their mediocre play, but Flames overall system contributed to their poor goalie stats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino7c

this is beyond false...you obviously don't check those stats often

I do almost every game, Flames had more HD chances in the vast majority of their games

the goalies sucked balls

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

No he is right.

The Flames almost always out shot the opponents to start games but playing around the perimeter and tossing softies at them and would give up a breakaway, odd man rush, or a easy slot chance as the first few shots on our goalie which went in a lot.

They had a stat that the 4-5 3rd stringers got their first win in the NHL vs the Flames often with an over exaggerated save % because of the volume of shots.

Markstrom could have been better for sure but he wasn't the reason our season went sideways.

ComixZone · 10-20-2023, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanIn80

So yeah - Goaltending was the single biggest flaw the Flames had last season. It wasn’t the only flaw, but it was the biggest.

butterfly · 10-20-2023, 02:52 PM

The only way for save percentage to decrease is for shooting percentage to increase. Which, sadly, the Flames were last in the league at last year (8.8%).

Also, teams are being much more aggressive with pulling their goalies which I expect is the source of a lot of the increase in scoring, though unrelated to save percentage.

Paulie Walnuts · 10-20-2023, 02:52 PM

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Originally Posted by FanIn80

Is this natural stattrick or moneypuck?

butterfly · 10-20-2023, 02:53 PM

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Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Is this natural stattrick or moneypuck?

That's MoneyPuck.

FanIn80 · 10-20-2023, 02:55 PM

How awesome were we on the PP tho?

Parallex · 10-20-2023, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

So yeah - Goaltending was the single biggest flaw the Flames had last season. It wasn’t the only flaw, but it was the biggest.

Which one would think was obvious. It was almost like all those shutouts Markstrom got the year before were being paid for with goals against on the first shot.

Markstrom was just bad. We know it and he (Markstrom) knew it. Let's just hope that we get good Markstrom this year.

The Yen Man · 10-20-2023, 03:13 PM

To be clear, I'm not arguing that Markstrom didn't play bad, because he did. But the Flames also did give up a ton of grade A chances vs. overall shots against, which also contributed to the bad save %. That's all I was trying to say.

FanIn80 · 10-20-2023, 03:18 PM

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Originally Posted by Parallex

Markstrom was just bad. We know it and he (Markstrom) knew it. Let's just hope that we get good Markstrom this year.

Ok... but there's also the fact we gave up a pile of high-danger shots against and lacked in winning rebound battles.

Look at us vs CAR in the first pic I posted. They're probably our closest comparable in the top 10, except their D was significantly better at HD shots against and clearing out rebounds.