[News] Save percentage on the decline despite better goaltending

[sketchyt]

I don't think recent equipment changes had a lot of impact... if at all. The biggest thing about being able to stop the puck is to identify, recognize and then see the release of a shot.

Shooters have significantly evolved their releases and can now instantly change their shot angles, and get their shot off wherever/whenever they want. Their sticks also make it easier to do so now. It makes the shot look crazy from the POV of a goaltender.

It's difficult to try to stop what you don't see/expect.

Tuuka Rask talks about it here:

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

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.

You even heard alot of the non-Flames media talk about it and Huska brought it up after he was hired.

They didn't excuse Markstrom or Vladar but they said when they gave up chances they were really bad.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Inferno

They didn't excuse Markstrom or Vladar but they said when they gave up chances they were really bad.

There are high-danger chances, and then there are ‘gimmes’, where it's a surprise if the play doesn't result in a goal. A shot from the slot with the goalie moving is high-danger. A 2-on-0 breakaway is a gimme. But in the stats, they are both counted as HDSC.

The eye test says the Flames gave up an unusually high percentage of gimmes last year. As far as I know, the stats don't track that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

There are high-danger chances, and then there are ‘gimmes’, where it's a surprise if the play doesn't result in a goal. A shot from the slot with the goalie moving is high-danger. A 2-on-0 breakaway is a gimme. But in the stats, they are both counted as HDSC.

The eye test says the Flames gave up an unusually high percentage of gimmes last year. As far as I know, the stats don't track that.

Plus it makes a difference who is shooting. Last year it seemed like everyone they gave up those plays to was a star from the other team. There’s a difference between a breakaway given to a grinder versus, say, Laine

[DeluxeMoustache]

Save percentage is declining because Sutter’s high volume of low quality shots is no longer padding the stats of opposing goalies league wide!

Also Ovechkin turned old this year

[Goriders]

All that really matters in my mind is W’s. The stats can paint a picture. But really the goal is to let in one less than the opposing goalie.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

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.

Except based on that table snippet they are were an extreme outlier in terms of HD shots against. Flames weren't great but seem to be about average.

Edit: but as others have said, the Flames' HD chances against were often egregious

[gvitaly]

The advanced stats match the eye test. So far Markstorm is doing just fine.

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