Features

• Manny Legace was “exceptional” in his minor league stint with the Peoria Rivermen after being put through waivers mid-season by St. Louis. (St.Louis Post Dispatch)

• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goalie John Curry relishes the long break between the first and second rounds of the playoffs. (Citizens Voice)

From the Blogs

• Toronto Mike explains why the Justin Pogge era has to end in the Leafs organization.

Transactions

• Rockford Ice Hogs goaltenders Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford were recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks after being eliminated by Milwaukee in the first round of the AHL playoffs. (WEAU News)

It’s time for a little reader feedback on the first day of the second round. We’ve seen some stellar performances from goalies already (Luongo, Ward and more) and a few of the annual young goalie surprises (Hiller, Varlamov).

Who will steal the show in the second round? Whose star will keep rising and whose will fall?

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. If we get enough feedback we’ll post some of the better answers in the next couple of days with links back to your own sites, if you have them.

NHL Goalies

• Tim Thomas playoff journal: Well-deserved time off
• It’s make or break time for Luongo
• Luongo’s time is now

• Luongo, Khabibulin showcase differing styles

Luongo comes into the series leading the playoffs with a 1.15 goals-against average and .962 save percentage. Khabibulin is saddled with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.

• Distracting Luongo at top of Blackhawks’ wish list
• Goaltending’s the answer

For about 20 minutes Wednesday, Roberto Luongo held centre stage in the Canucks dressing room.

• Brodeur not the best just yet

Despite his resume, goaltender’s performance in this year’s playoffs opens up debate once again.

• Another look at the same topic from the Hockey News.
• Sutter absolves Brodeur of blame for painful loss
• Toast of the town: Hiller
• Toast of the Town: Tim Thomas
• Toast of the town: Roberto Luongo
• ASSESSING THE FREE AGENT GOALIE MARKET The Islanders need a 1-B and top-quality No. 3
• Varly comes through in the clutch

World Championships

• Swede victory!

Gustavsson was Sweden’s third goalie in as many games. It turned out to be a smart move as Gustavsson was the team’s best player tonight. “How often do you see a goalie give up five goals and still be their best player?

Goalies in the Blogs

• Rich Hofmann: For Flyers, Biron is a net asset worth re-signing …
• HockeyBuzz.com – Andy Strickland – Legace Says Sorry To Blues Fans …
  
• KuklasKorner : Goal Line Report : What’s the Big Deal With Varly?
• Fear the Fin – Changes will be made. This is pro sports and winning is the only …
• Ranger Rants: Afterthoughts
• Varlamov: Russian for “Ward?” – Japers’ Rink
• What about GOALIE Hockey Stick Selection?!

Nice find of a video with Kari Ramo discussing stick selection and how he prepares his stick.

Junior Goaltenders

Other Goalies

• Former Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek expects a successful hockey return with HC Pardubice
• Goalie Sterling seeks return with Icehawks

NHL Goalies

• Luongo eyeing Cup
• Quality, not quantity, brings down Kipper
• Flames smash into Chicago’s Bulin Wall
• Wall back to its old stature
• LISTEN TO OUR INTERVIEW WITH RED WINGS GOALIE CHRIS OSGOOD

Game Reports

• Gallant Lundqvist Comes Up A Save Short
• VIDEO – Henrik Lundqvist interview post-game
• Brodeur: Winning shot hit ‘dreaded 7-hole’
• Brodeur and Devils stunned in losing series in final two minutes:

“It was a great shot,” Brodeur said. “All series long we didn’t let him skate with speed with the puck down the wing, but for whatever reason with no time on the clock we let him do it.
“He made the shot he wanted and beat me clean.”

Goalies in the Blogs

• The future in the crease: Biron and beyond – Broad Street Hockey
• Looking out for number 1 | Icehockey News
• Two Goalie Openings in Philly?
• five for fighting: Some (Dallas Stars) goalie talk

Junior Goaltenders

• Sapurji: OHL’s Rodney Dangerfield?

Features

• Anton Khudobin has proven his mettle under pressure, backstopping the Houston Aeros into the West Division Finals. (Pro Hockey News)

Anton Khudobin gets a toe on the puck during game 5 of of the Peoria series – Photo by Fred Trask

• Michal Neuvirth is hot for the Hershey Bears in the playoffs, and Braden Holtby has a new mask. (Stack the Pads)

• Buffalo goaltending prospect Jhonas Enroth may have seen his season end with the Portland Pirates, but the organization sees a bright future for him. (The Buffalo News)

NHL Goalies

• Traveling with the Stars: Martin Brodeur
• For Hiller, this competition is in a different league

We have updates on the Vezina Finalists from each of their team’s hometown newspapers:

Goalies in the Blogs

• Interesting analysis of the Vezina candidates at On the Forecheck which is based on data from Behind the Net. From the Rink also takes a look at this data.
• There is a another good look at the Vezina, even if you aren’t a Luongo fan at Hockey Hotstove: No Vezina For Luongo, Canucks Club and More …
• Hub Hockey: Thomas Makes The Cut: One Of Three Vezina Finalists
• Niklas Backstrom named Vezina finalist – Hockey Wilderness
• Picking the Vezina nominees – From The Rink
• Goaltending Metric Shines Harsh Light on Avs’ Goalies – Mile High …
• HomerMcFanboy » lord varlamov

CHL Goalies

• Belleville Bulls’ Mike Murphy Named OHL Goaltender of the Year

Well it didn’t take a complete genius to pull it off – but I’m happy to point out that I was correct when I predicted the three finalists for this year’s Vezina – only time will tell if I picked the winner as well.

The finalists were announced today - check out the article on NHL.com.

Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province blogs that Luongo overlooked for Vezina. He shouldn’t have been.

I think he makes a compelling argument and while I picked the guys I did, that was purely to try and nail the prediction. I’d like to see Luongo in there myself. In fact, aside from the shutouts, I’m not sure Mason has much on Pekka Rinne either.

From the Blogs

• Houston Aeros goalie Barry Brust has a fractured bone in his foot (The Third Intermission)
• Justin Pogge’s days as the future of the Leafs in goal may be over. He was benched in game 6 in the series loss to Manitoba. (Digital Journal & Globe and Mail)
• St. Louis Game Time gives a run-down of the goalies in the Blues organization, including Ben Bishop, Manny Legace, and Chris Holt, all of whom have spent time guarding the net for Peoria this season.

Manny Legace snags the puck in the overlap of his pads in game 6 of the Peoria/Houston series, which will go to game 7 tonight – Photo by Chris Jerina

NHL Goalies

• Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal writes:

“The Canadiens will trade goalie Jaroslav Halak this summer (how about the Colorado Avalanche?) and look at a veteran to back up Price. Ty Conklin of the Red Wings may be the guy because Detroit needs to bring up Jimmy Howard or Scott Clemmensen next season.”

Bring up Scott Clemmensen – of the Devils who I think will be a UFA next year? I suppose he means bring in…Clemmer is due for a shot somewhere next year but I while the Wings would be a tempting destination for anyone, I’m not sure his first shot at substantial playing time should be in a city where they eat goalies alive. Might want to avoid Montreal as well…

He also suggests the Panthers will look into moving Thomas Vokoun and there are a few more note on Carey Price in Montreal.

See the full article here.

• Fans had reason to show displeasure with Price
• Biron wants to return to the Flyers
• American backstopper
• Hiller turning into Houdini
• Lundqvist’s struggles lead list of Rangers’ concerns
• Kipper curt in assessing hook

‘I have to be better . . . we have to be stronger in front of the goal’

Game Reports

• Caps solve Rangers goalie to even series
• Cam Ward stands between the Devils and tee times for Carolina. And what a stand it is: He gets a shutout to force Game 4. Hurricanes 4, Devils 0 
• Hiller almost steals another one
  

Goalies in the Blogs

• The Trapezoid: Kiprusoff losing his grip?
• Capitals’ Rookie Doesn’t Rattle
• Thrashers in a position to deal a goalie
• Panthers willing to deal goalie 
• Inside the Flyers: Done in playoffs, Flyers ready for next goalie
• Pitcher, not goaltender most important position in sports

Young female goalie from Amhertsburg, Ontario invited to national hockey camp in Calgary

Amhertsburg, Ontario goaltender Lisa Steffes has been invited to the Canadian national under-18 strength and conditioning camp to be held early May in Calgary. The 17 year old has just finished playing her first year of women’s hockey taking her provincial team, the Bluewater Hawks, to a bronze medal finish in their championship tournament. Prior to this year Steffes played in goal for a AAA boys team.

Young female goalie headed to Calgary

Canadian women’s team goalie Kim St-Pierre’s training program links goaltending and ballet

Kim St-Pierre, goaltender for the Canadian women’s hockey team, has made ballet part of her training routine claiming that the workouts have improved her speed and power. Her teachers Miranda Esmonde-White and Sahra Esmonde-White say that by elongating muscles and improving flexibility goaltenders can expect fewer injuries by keeping stress of certain areas particularly the knees, hips, and back.

Kim St-Pierre discovers the world of ballet and the benefits it offers athletes