The Top 5 Goalies Not in the Playoffs

Which Goalies Deserved a Better Fate?

With all the attention focused on the playoffs now, I began to think of those teams that did not make it to the dance. Nearly half the teams will soon be heading for the golf course and there must be some big names who deserve better. Or put another way, who is looking good for the World Championships? 

7 guys made my list of 5 – keep reading to see how!

So, let’s take a look at who is done (almost).

East Florida   Buffalo Ottawa Toronto Atlanta Tampa New York Islanders

West   Nashville Minnesota Edmonton Dallas Phoenix Los Angeles Colorado

The thing that stands out for me is, well, the lack of names that stand out. Most of the top ‘tenders in the league are still playing for the Cup. It looks like most of the best guys were able to at least carry their teams into the top half of the league.

Still, here are, in my opinion five (well, seven) guys who deserve better:

1. Niklas Backstrom – 4th in the league in wins with 37, 4th in save%, 3rd in GAA how exactly did they miss the playoffs?
2. Pekka Rinne - if not for all the shutouts Mason got in an early run this guy would be at least as likely to win the Calder.
3. Thomas Vokun / Craig Andersen the FLA tenders are 2nd and 3rd in save % – but a lot further down the list in GAA.
4. Ryan Miller – 7th in save %. Without his injury Buffalo might still be playing.
5. Dwayne Roloson Middle of the pack but only a few thousandths separates him from the rest in save% – only 4 goals over the course of the year on 2000 shots and clearly he carried the Oilers as best as he could for a long stretch.
6. Scott Clemmensen – honorable mention – technicaly he’s in the playoffs, but he won’t see any game action and the way he played this year , and how he carried himself, he definately deserves better.

What stands out for me is that, without looking at first round playoff exits, if goalies are the most important factor (of course we are!) and I had to place my bet today I’d put my money on Finland in the World Championships. 

Who would make your list?

Check out this NBC video feature on Backstrom

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Since this is a list – I want to give a special shout out here to Bruce K. Hollingdrake of TheHockeyWriters.com who included our site in his list of top hockey blogs and their correspondent Brett Bodner did this profile of Scott Clemmensen.

 

 

 

photo thanks to Aticia, all rights reserved.

Related posts:

1. Goalies the X-Factors in the Playoffs
2. Men’s Olympic Hockey Goalies – Who’s in and Who’s Out
3. Men behind the mask – Who will be Canada’s Olympic Goalies?
4. AHL Goalies Continue to Move
5. Hockey Hall of Fame Open to Women – Which Goalies Will be the First to Enter?

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