Goaltending Issues?

So over the course of the season, and past seasons, goaltending has always been a hot topic. A prime example of the effects of good goaltending can be seen in Columbus and in Phoenix. With very few changes occurring in the off season for Columbus, the team they have now is effectively the same they had when they went to the playoffs last season. The biggest change for them is the play of Steve Mason. Mired in his sophomore slump, Columbus is left with a failing Starter and a career backup who's certainly not getting the job done. The quick turnaround in goal for columbus has turned a promising season into a disaster. The opposite can be said in Phoenix with the likes of Ilya Bryzgalov as one of the league leaders in goalie stats. It's no surprise that the teams performance has improved with Bryzgalov's play. Similar situations are present in Ottawa with both Brian Elliot and Pascal Leclaire performing poorly. Recent games aside, neither goaltender has been playing at the level they were needed at. Leclaire has shown to be a Jekyll and Hyde goalie all in the same game making Spectacular saves and equally spectacular mistakes. This is a far cry from the goalie we were seeing earlier in the year before he got hurt. The call up of Mike Brodeur sparked the team. Calm, poised goaltending and timely saves allowed the team to play with confidence and they shed a 5 game losing streak and are now on a 4 game tear.

It's off hearing that Chicago has a goaltending issue when they have the only goalie with a goals against average under 2.00...It's not like Detroit has a goalie who's a brick wall either. At the end of the day it's the timely saves that need to be made and Osgoode and Huet have seemed to be able to do that. I suppose it helps having stellar defensive players in front of you and Chicago's #1 defence will do more than enough to insulate Huet. That being said, aside from his abysmal puck playing abilities, he's still a good goaltender and as long as he makes the saves he needs to make, the Hawks will have no problem down the road. And hey they can always throw that guy with the under 2.00 GAA. Antti Niemi right?

By the way? Think there's a scouting report now that Carey Price can be beat high blocker side off the rush? Zack Smith's first career goal he scored shorthanded on Saturday and Andy MacDonald's OT winner last night look oddly similar.