2010-11 full of surprise net-minders
Although the 2010-11 National Hockey League season is still very young, there have been several surprises between the posts for plenty of NHL clubs. Starting goalies around the League have struggled to
find their form early in the season, while the back-ups have played lights out, earning starts over their colleagues.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks starting goalie and $5m man Roberto Luongo has looked shaky in the early portion of the season, while his counterpart Cory Schneider has played well when given the opportunity. Although
Schneider only has one win in two starts on the year his statistics tell a different story. The youngster has posted a .974 save-percentage (SV%) and a 0.75 goals-against-average (GAA). When compared to Luongo’s 1-3-2 record, .903 SV% and 2.93 GAA, Schneider
looks like he should be getting more starts.
Pittsburgh Penguins
To this point Pittsburgh Penguins’ starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been one of the worst tenders in the League. The 25-year-old has yet to earn a win in three starts and has a .852 SV% and 3.41
GAA. Competing with Fleury is the surprising Brent Johnson, who has collected all four of the Penguins wins this season. Johnson has simply been lights out, earning a .950 SV% and 1.49 GAA. Johnson continues to earn starts with his superb play and could begin
splitting time with Fleury if the Quebec native does not pick up his play.
Washington Capitals
Coming into the 2010-11 season it was expected that Semyon Varlamov would be seeing the majority of the games for the Washington Capitals. However, 22-year-old Michal Neuvirth seems to have taken over
the starting job, getting the call in all six games this season. Moreover, the Czech native has been able to perform well in all six starts, sitting with a record of 4-2, a .921 SV% and a 2.45 GAA. Varlamov did not see any action until he came in for Neuvirth
in a game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday 19 October.
Boston Bruins
For the entire off-season the Boston Bruins scampered to find a home for veteran goaltender Tim Thomas. Although he was still able to contribute, Thomas was seen as obsolete, as the Bruins had stumbled
on their goaltender of the future in 22-year-old Tuukka Rask. Rask was one of the biggest surprises of the year in 2009-10, posting incredible numbers and helping the Bruins into the post-season. Conversely, this season it has been all Thomas, as the 36-year-old
is once again proving his worth. The Michigan native has earned a 3-0 record this season to go along with a .979 SV%, 0.67 GAA and a shutout. Meanwhile Rask may have entered the dreaded sophomore slump, as the Finn has only started one game this year, which
he lost. Rask is expected to earn his second start before the end of the week, but will have to post quality numbers to compete with the streaking Thomas.
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders were hoping that a healthy Rick DiPietro would finally live up to his 15-year $67.5 million contract. However, it appears to be more of the same from the 29-year-old, as he has
been relegated to the back-up position, playing behind Dwayne Roloson. DiPietro has struggled mightily in 2010-11 with a 1-0-2 record, a .869 SV% and a 3.53 GAA. Meanwhile the 41-year-old Roloson has been lights-out this year, posting a 2-1 record with a .942
SV% and a 1.65 GAA. The strong play of Roloson, who is only making $2.5 million this year, coupled with the continued poor play of DiPietro leaves the Islanders with a tough decision next year. The club will likely be forced to either re-sign Roloson or go
out and find another starting goaltender.
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