Canada's Loss Reveals Goaltending Troubles

After yet another heartbreaking loss to the Russians, the Canadian skaters are doing exactly what they should after their goalie tandem gave up six goals: blaming themselves.

Canada was handed a 6-5 loss, their riveting comeback effort falling just shy after trailing by five with little more than 10 minutes left in the game. Regardless, the six goals allowed by the Canadian goaltending were not used as an excuse.

In all of their post-game interviews, not one bad word was spoken of either starter Scott Wedgewood or reliever Mark Visentin. The teammates took the entire blame on their own shoulders, an impressive display of leadership in the midst of a very difficult outcome.

The trouble is leaders will more often say what is right than what is true. The fact is, Russia’s goaltending let 5 goals through them on 54 shots, while Canada’s duo allowed 6 goals on just 24 shots. The deflections off the snake-bitten Ryan Murray offer no excuses. Netminders at this level must make more of those tough saves.

This is not a country that is used to such feeble performances between the pipes. Canada has a proud history of legendary goalies backing stingy defenses. When team Canada needed stand-on-your-head goaltending, fans had the luxury of taking it for granted.

Nowadays, Canada’s net at the World Juniors is increasingly average. In a tournament that not long ago was dominated by prodigious goalies out of Quebec, the talk has shifted to traditionally attack-minded European sides.

Examples from the 2012 tournament are the flashy Czech Petr Mrazek, and Russia’s Andrei Vasilevski who, despite the rough finish, kept the Canadian offense at bay for 50 out of 60 minutes.

The Canadian keepers did not have the same kind of star power coming in to this tournament, and while Scott Wedgewood’s exceptional play early on got people talking, getting yanked halfway through the semi-finals will be his mark on the World Juniors.

The performance against the Russians, along with the collapse of Mark Visentin in the 2011 gold medal game, continues a trend that has spanned the better part of a decade. The days of spectacular goaltending are in the rear view mirror for World Junior fans, which makes the same effect on Canada’s senior squads inevitable.

Fortunately, the Canadian Juniors of the mid to late 2000s brought such overwhelming talent in the offensive zone that they continued to steam roll their way through the holidays. Panic has been delayed up to now.

The cover-up could only last until Canada was twice knocked out of contention by the hated Russians. The lack of success has lifted the veil from over the Canadian net, and the fear is that this nation is on the path to a full-blown goaltending crisis.

This would be, no doubt, the worst position that could possibly dry up for any program. Over the last century, no matter how the game has evolved, the goaltender has remained the most critical component of a hockey team. If Canada truly is running out of young netminders, the result 20 years down the road will be disastrous.

To avoid this catastrophe, Hockey Canada must do all the necessary digging to find out why they are not developing goalies. Right now, all we have is speculation by decreasingly wise hockey writers, none of whom offer any legitimate solutions.

Hockey Canada knows best why they fall short, and if they are serious about maintaining this country’s hockey dominance, they will be humble enough to honestly assess and address any of their findings.

It is truly important that they recognize that goaltending is a serious issue, and take any necessary action, or else put their fans through suffering on far bigger stages than the World Juniors.

Don't Count Out the Bruins

You may recall the playoff bracket posted to this blog before the first round of the playoffs began, and specifically, the prediction of Boston over Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Finals. And as painful as it is, that pick still stands, and here’s why.

The formula for a Stanley Cup has long been accepted as solid goaltending, stingy defense, and grit. These are the most important factors, and they grow more impactful as a team runs deeper into the post-season.

In a rough-and-tumble sport where toughness is only magnified during the playoffs, players get worn down, and it will often be the team that can rough the other up enough to earn an edge in fatigue that has the advantage.

The Bruins are bigger, and badder than the Canucks, there is no arguing that. They have sandpaper in their bottom six, top six, and starting six d-men. No matter which line or pairing they have on the ice, Boston will be constantly grinding away at the Canucks stamina.

When you play that gritty style, goals will be hard to come by. That was evidenced by Game 1 last night. The series will come down to which side can dominate defensively and between the pipes. Both of those traits happen to be Boston’s specialty.

Expect the pairing of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg to give the Sedin twins more than their fair share of trouble. If Hank and Danny had trouble with Nashville’s Weber-Suter pairing, how will they handle maybe the best duo in the league?

When the Sedins do not score, as was the case in the Preds series, they have to rely on secondary scoring. In the second round, it was Kesler who provided virtually all of it. But that was against a sub-par bottom four defensemen.

The Bruins have three pairings that can play, and they play stingy. If Chara and Seidenberg can control the Sedins, it will not be as easy for the bottom nine to score goals. What makes it worse is they have to score on Tim Thomas.

If Pekka Rinne was a test for Vancouver, they were being tested for this series, because Tim Thomas might be the best there is this year. And in this playoff run, he has developed a habit of showing up big in the biggest games.

If you combine that factor with the grit that the Bruins bring, which will likely result in a worn, tired, and likely injury depleted Canuck team, it adds up to a Boston team that will gain more of an advantage as the series stretches longer.

The Canucks have the skill to take games early on, but they have had trouble closing out series, and the Bruins have a knack for coming back. Don’t be surprised if Vancouver blows a lead to lose the series.

Vancouver fans certainly hope that will not be the case, because after all the anticipation, an ending like that would be heartbreaking.

Diving Could Become Dangerous

Was it a trip, or a dive? One fan base is always certain of the answer, while supporters of the other club know the opposite to be true. It puts the referee in an impossible position, and it is why embellishing has become an issue for the NHL.

Like most other controversies the league faces, the fans’ opinions are split. The liberal view is that diving should be accepted as a valid strategy, a part of the game, while traditionalists argue that it is a cheap tactic, and does not belong it the game.

But even as awareness increases, faking spills is becoming a more frequent occurrence. If this trend is allowed to continue, it will prove more than just an annoyance; it could become dangerous.

In basic terms, a officiating is meant to protect the players. Diving impairs the referee’s ability to officiate, and consequently, player safety suffers. Referees have a very difficult job, more so than most fans will concede. Refs have so much on their plate already, having to judge whether a play was a dive or not really is unfair.

You hear it come up in many casual hockey conversations; that the quality of officiating has gone down in recent years. If that is true, then it is the players, not the referees who are to blame.

The diving problem is also indirectly linked to the more hot-button topics in the league today. Much has been made about how officials, in front offices and on ice rinks, must be held more responsible for the prevention of serious injuries.

But the NHL’s big boys can help get rid of headshots in ways other than handing down tougher suspensions. Increasing the length of these bans will not be as effective as expanding the types of plays that are suspendable.

Many times, deciding if a player was legitimately tripped up or not borders on impossible when viewed at full speed. But if Colin Campbell’s office examined these questionable plays in slow-motion, determining that the fall was embellished, in some cases, would become obvious. We know it would work; in fact, viewers in living rooms make it look easy.

Not to say that they should give suspensions for going down a little easy, or holding the stick to one’s body to aid the ref in spotting a hook. Than would be extreme. But if someone is obviously trying to make an innocent play look viscous (i.e. Mike Ribero), there is an opportunity for the league to make a statement.

Unfortunately, this gamesmanship is not the issue people want to talk about when Sidney Crosby is out with a concussion, and another cheap-shot cost Marc Savard his career. But if the NHL is not careful, it is exactly these kinds of incidents that diving will produce.

The league would be wise to deal with diving now; because it is easier to kill a virus that an epidemic.

Final Four Proves Goaltending's Worth

From the old NHL to the new one, some things never change.

These 2011 playoffs have proven that goaltending is the cornerstone to a successful playoff run. As the Conference Finals begin, the common denominator between the final four is the last line of defence. It is no accident that these teams have made it so far thanks to solid play between the pipes.

Whether it has been Dwayne Roloson, Roberto Luongo, Antti Niemi, or Tim Thomas, series have been won and lost in goaltending duels. Big names, and small, old and young, this is a bunch that is getting it done.

The baby-face of these four backstoppers is the San Jose Sharks' Antti Niemi. The sophomore already has a Stanley Cup ring, and after leaving Chicago for the West Coast, questions were raised about whether this rookie sensation was a one-hit-wonder, or if he was for real. Answered.

Niemi chalked up 35 wins in San Jose's effort to take the Pacific Division, and his 2.38 GAA was ninth among the league's starters. More importantly, he has been clutch in the playoffs. Goaltending is not just about being good, its about being good when it matters, and in five overtime appearances so far, he has not conceded a goal. He has let everyone know that last season was no fluke.

Roberto Luongo has had a different mission. His 2009/10 season produced his worst save percentage of his career at .913, and worse, the Canucks bucked out of the post-season at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks for the second straight year. The brunt of the criticism landed on Luongo's shoulders, and he needed a bounce-back.

This year has been that sort of season for Luongo. A Vezina candidate, he has been solid in net during the Canucks' playoff run. He did take a stumble during the quarter-final series against Chicago, but after Schneider was awarded the start in Game 6, he stormed back and delivered a performance in the deciding game that was nothing short of brilliant.

The semis boasted a goaltending duel, as Luongo stared down another nominee for the Vezina in Nashville's Pekka Rinne. While Rinne received much praise for his spectacular play, Luongo quietly outdid him, posting better numbers, and winning more games. No scintillating saves, he just made it look easy.

Tim Thomas is famous for his scintillating saves, however, and he has had himself a season for the ages. The 36-year-old's .938 save percentage is the NHL's single-season record, and he produced a Dead Puck-esque 2.00 GAA. A lot of people chose the Boston Bruins before the playoffs to come out of the east, and their explanations more often that not included his name.

But Thomas was slow out of the gate against the hated Montreal Canadiens. Boston dropped the first two games, and Thomas' best-even save percentage was no where to be found, as he now was below .900. Boston's goalie needed to turn his game around if the rest of the team was to do the same.

That is precisely what happened, as Thomas picked up his game, and the Bruins took the next three games, and the series lead. Even when the Habs forced a seventh, Thomas outdid Carey Price when it counted most, and Boston never looked back.

In the second round, Thomas completely outclassed the Philadelphia Flyers goaltending corps. Philly was a mess, and Thomas stayed dominant. As a result, the Bruins also dominated the series, sweeping the Flyers.

Tim Thomas is certainly not the only greybeard excelling in net. His third round opponent Dwayne Roloson, at 41 years old, makes Thomas look like a prospect fresh out of the draft. Roloson has never been a superstar goalie, and his best days were widely thought to be behind him. No one was even sure if he was going to play another season, or announce his retirement.

He ended up deciding to sign on for one more year with the New York Islanders, and after a decent start there, was dealt at the deadline to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has proven to be a massive upgrade over Dan Ellis and Mike Smith.

His experience has bred consistency, as he was great down the stretch for the Lightning, and has now shifted to outstanding for the playoffs. In a tight series against the Penguins, he was the difference. When they were up against the heavily favoured Capitals, Tampa's goaltending advantage helped them sweep.

Roloson has led this Lightning team, and his level of play has not wavered. If Tampa Bay still has Dan Ellis playing in goal, this playoff run simply does not happen.

Even with all the changes made during the lockout to encourage scoring, goalies have maintained their  importance. In fact, throughout every era hockey was endured, the foundation of a dynasty has always started in the crease.

Edmonton had Grant Fuhr, the Islanders had Billy Smith, the Habs has Ken  Dryden, Toronto had Johnny Bower. Each one of these men are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The game can change all it likes, but you can never alter this principal.

Offence gets the glory, but goaltending wins championships.

Playoff Predictions

Not a moment too soon, here is my playoff bracket.

More Fighting Curbs Concussions

Fighting and concussions have been a couple of the NHLs hottest topics over the last few years. While they have been debated plenty, these two words have not been used in the same sentence as much as they should.

The concussions that have caused so much buzz have been almost uniquely a result of hits to the head. From Matt Cooke to David Steckel, players have been getting away with too much. The league’s officiating has taken most of the heat for this alarming trend, especially after Zdeno Chara’s perceived cheap shot that went unpunished outside of a game misconduct, and another Matt Cooke incident.
 

But some have linked the infamous instigator rule to the lack of respect players are showing. Many pacifistic members of the hockey world have scoffed at this logic. You can't fight fire with fire, right? The reasoning does seem odd at first glance, but a thorough look reveals that fighting is, in fact, the perfect combatant against concussions.

The one thing everybody can agree on is that respect is at the root of the problem. Don Cherry'll tell ya, the kids today got no respect for the head. It is certain that there were less cheap shot artists in the days of Syl Apps, and it is even more certain that those few guys were dealt with much more harshly.

Hockey is a unique sport, because it has always been governed not only by regulations, but by a code. The unwritten rules established by players, and enforced by players. The threat of violence was enough to force tough guys to control their aggression. This system has balanced rough-and-tumble with civil for over a century.

The balance was disturbed when the league limited the enforcer's role, via the instigator rule in 1992. There was nothing more to repel dirty hits. So the NHL tried to counter the effect by imposing today's "zero tolerance" officiating. But calling games more strictly has failed to put a serious dent in the dangerous plays causing brutal injuries.

Instead, this movement has only succeeded in removing physicality from the game. The role of the grinder is diminishing, and even clean hits are not as prevalent as they once were. What once was a selling point is now discouraged. Is hockey without hitting and fighting a desirable product?

Not only have these limits watered down the game, but has made it more hazardous for the players. Preventing players from starting a fight has in turn made it impossible for them to stand up for their teammates, and for themselves. Hockey needs fighting to keep the rats in check.

More fighting leads to less cheap-shots, which reduces the need for "zero tolerance" rule enforcement, creating a more physical, entertaining game, and happier fans. It is exactly what the critics say it is, fighting fire with fire. A crazy idea at first glance, but in practice, it works.

Canucks Choke-Bound

The buzz in BC is whether or not this is finally “the year” for the Canucks. Most of the media raves that this is Vancouver’s best team ever, pegging them as Stanley Cup favourites. But many fans, however, are skeptical of their home team’s chances.

Most of these pessimists (or realists, depending on who you ask) prophesize another Luongo meltdown, or preach about the lack of grit that will eventually lead to Vancouver’s doom. But we laymen often forget the most ominous omen, one that has continued to plague teams year after year.

The President’s Trophy curse.

Really? The Canucks most challenging obstacle is nothing but a bogus superstition? In a sense, it is.  Every year the team with the best regular season has an uncanny habit of busting early in the playoffs. There obviously is nothing mystical about this chunk of metal; it is how you win it that jinxes your playoff run.

Vancouver has been the best in the West for virtually all season. They lead the league by a fairly comfortable margin. The divisional race was over before it started. It has been a dominant season like no other in franchise history. Up to this point, the Canucks have beaten every obstacle that has come their way.

But the opponent that might do the most damage is Adversity. The Canucks have yet to face any sort of resistance this year. They have relatively cruised to where they are now. Never has there been a sense of desperation, or a must-win game. The trouble is, both of those scenarios will undoubtedly come up in the post-season, and the Canucks will not be ready.
 

This effect is not a tangible one, but it has been proven time-and-time again to “choke” powerhouse teams out of the Cup chase. San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, and let’s not forget, the San Jose Sharks. The only exception post-lockout is the Detroit Red Wings, and their roster had enough playoff experience to fill an encyclopedia or two.

It’s like the saying goes, adversity builds character. There is no doubting that the Canucks are a heavy Cup favourite. But when the situation demanding great character arises, they will be the underdogs.