Who will be our starting Goalie in early November?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

The #1 spot won't be decided until McDonald or Gillies claims the role, or until someone from outside is brought in. Both Hiller and Ramo are what they are, solid 1A goalies, but below average as a true #1. I don't think Ortio can be counted on being that guy either, he looks like another Ramo at best to me, good but not good enough...

[GoJetsGo]

Ortio has always shown flashes of brilliance.



Would be nice to see him string together some play at the top level consistently because I do believe he has an incredible skill-set.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I might be alone here, as it seems everyone thinks a number 1 absolutely MUST emerge at some point. I personally see no problem with running a tandem of equally good goaltenders.

I agree. Even the '89 team ran a tandem (Vernon 52 GP, Wamsley 35 GP). Unless you have a #1 who is a true workhorse, you need to rest your starter regularly so he'll have gas in the tank for the playoffs.

I think one reason why some people obsess over the #1 G position is that they're looking for the next Kiprusoff. Folks, we're probably not going to get another Kiprusoff for many years to come.

Come to that, even Kiprusoff got ridden so heavily just to make the playoffs that he was more or less gassed when the postseason finally arrived. I believe that was a contributing factor in several of those first-round exits. In '04 he played only 39 regular season games and was fresh as a daisy in April.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Come to that, even Kiprusoff got ridden so heavily just to make the playoffs that he was more or less gassed when the postseason finally arrived. I believe that was a contributing factor in several of those first-round exits. In '04 he played only 39 regular season games and was fresh as a daisy in April.

About 60 games seems to be the maximum for regular season games played by your goalie if you want to win the Cup.


Regular Season Games Played by Stanley Cup winning goalies:

• 2015 - Crawford : 57
• 2014 - Quick : 49
• 2013 - Crawford : 30
• 2012 - Quick : 69
• 2011 - Thomas : 57
• 2010 - Niemi : 39
• 2009 - Fleury : 62
• 2008 - Osgood : 43
• 2007 - Giguere : 56
• 2006 - Ward : 28

Brodeur is the only goalie to win multiple Cups after playing more than 70 regular season games in a season (Bernie Parent came close, playing 73 and 68 games in the Flyers' back-to-back Cup years).

Grant Fuhr played a ridiculous 75 of 80 games in 1987-88, but that was the only one of their Cup years where he had that heavy of a workload. Their earlier Cup years were pretty evenly split between Fuhr and Moog.

The Islanders' dynasty teams were so evenly split that in 3 of the 4 years they won the Cup, Billy Smith didn't even play 50% of their regular season minutes.


It's really important to have a true Number One goalie step up for the playoffs. How you get there isn't as important. It is nice to have a backup who can give you a solid 25-30 games.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by getbak

About 60 games seems to be the maximum for regular season games played by your goalie if you want to win the Cup.


Regular Season Games Played by Stanley Cup winning goalies:

• 2015 - Crawford : 57
• 2014 - Quick : 49
• 2013 - Crawford : 30
• 2012 - Quick : 69
• 2011 - Thomas : 57
• 2010 - Niemi : 39
• 2009 - Fleury : 62
• 2008 - Osgood : 43
• 2007 - Giguere : 56
• 2006 - Ward : 28

Brodeur is the only goalie to win multiple Cups after playing more than 70 regular season games in a season (Bernie Parent came close, playing 73 and 68 games in the Flyers' back-to-back Cup years).

Grant Fuhr played a ridiculous 75 of 80 games in 1987-88, but that was the only one of their Cup years where he had that heavy of a workload. Their earlier Cup years were pretty evenly split between Fuhr and Moog.

The Islanders' dynasty teams were so evenly split that in 3 of the 4 years they won the Cup, Billy Smith didn't even play 50% of their regular season minutes.


It's really important to have a true Number One goalie step up for the playoffs. How you get there isn't as important. It is nice to have a backup who can give you a solid 25-30 games.

In 1979-80 and for all of the Islanders SC wins 16 out of 21 teams made the playoffs. Islanders (5th seed in the playoffs) would have made the playoffs with Billy Smith playing no games.... they were 24 points ahead of the Caps who were the team they had to beat to make the playoffs. The Caps with 67 pts had the best record of all the non-playoff teams.

In todays league where The President's trophy winner only has a 14 pt lead on making the playoffs the true #1 goalies don't get rested.... games missed are injury related.

Quick for LA 72 games.
Rask 70 games
Dubnyk 39 straight starts with another 10 in the playoffs.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Ortio has always shown flashes of brilliance.



Would be nice to see him string together some play at the top level consistently because I do believe he has an incredible skill-set.

Yeah that is the clincher. Every NHL (or near NHL) goalie shows flashes of brilliance. You need consistency to actually make it in the NHL. A great camp will help Ortio's standing but Hartley will have to be convinced on the consistency front to keep him up here. I doubt he will.