Corey Hirsch is a former NHL goaltender who spent parts of seven seasons with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, and Dallas Stars.
When it comes to streaky players and consistent ones, what’s the difference, and why? Let's take a look.
Brian Elliott is arguably the hottest player in the NHL right now. He's 11-1-1 with a .931 save percentage over his last 13 games, and following a shutout against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, he's showing no signs of slowing down. Where was this guy in the first half of the season, though, when Calgary Flames' management was left bewildered and shaking their heads?
I, myself, was starting to feel the heat because I'm a supporter of Brian Elliott. When the Flames went searching for more goaltending last summer, I gave him a ringing endorsement. For now, he's turned his play around.
On the other hand, certain types of players are always steady. It doesn’t matter where they are, what night it is, what month, or if the moon is full - they give you the same type of performance every night. Players in this category include Carey Price, the Sedin twins, and Jonathan Toews. They can all be great on occasion, but just as importantly they'll rarely give you a bad game.
Practice habits are a key reason for this continued success. These players train with the same energy level all the time, and you rarely see them out of position or skating around at 100 mph. Practicing consistency is what makes them good.
Mike Gartner, the most consistent 30-goal scorer in NHL history, was a great example of this. He started practice the same way every day - the first shot down the wing was at my head, and the second was between my legs. Every. Damn. Day.
Next, we have the streaker. He's the player that doesn’t score for 20 games, but then racks up 15 goals over his next 10. It can be maddening as a coach because you have to wait for it, you know it’s going to happen eventually, and your team needs it. You just have no idea when to expect it.
However, going to the well too often trying to light that fire can cost a coach his job. Just ask ex-St. Louis Blues boss Ken Hitchcock about Jake Allen. Also, I’m positive that if Calgary didn’t have Chad Johnson, my friend Glen Gulutzan would have been feeling the heat during Elliott's early season struggles.
So, what causes streakiness? In my experience, these players typically play on feel, and it again comes down to practice habits. They either practice with a lot of energy - trying to force things to happen - or are extremely passive while waiting for the right moment. Their highs are high, and their lows are low; there's no middle ground. If they aren’t feeling it, most of their game crashes, too.
That’s why, with one good save or a puck that hits someone in the ass and goes in, fortunes can change quickly for both players and their teams. It’s also why you put up with the streaky ones, because once they catch fire, it’s a special thing.
So, am I off the hook for the endorsement I gave to Elliott joining the Flames? Maybe for now - but I won't get too comfortable, as with these players it can turn just as fast. But for now, while it’s happening, the Flames should ride the wave and enjoy, because it’s a beautiful thing to watch.
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