The best round of playoffs in all of sport is upon us - and I've ranked the five hottest goalies out of the gate in descending order:
5. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
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I am enjoying the resurgence of the NHL’s best teammate. I say that because last season, Fleury had to watch Matt Murray take his job and run with it to a Stanley Cup victory. Only another goalie would know how hard that is to sit there, night after night, wanting to play as the other guy takes center stage.
How do you be a good teammate when you want to play, but knowing that if the other goalie plays well, you may never see the net again? Through it all he never complained and has always had the team's best interest in mind. He’s playing like a champion again, and I’m positive Las Vegas is watching.
4. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
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There is no way I could leave the world’s best goaltender off this list. There isn’t a more consistent goalie in the National Hockey League. Anytime Price is in net, the Canadiens have a chance to win.
I think back to Game 2, when the Rangers had the Canadiens on the brink of going home down two games to zero. Price was a brick wall, stopping all nine shots in the third and then another eight in overtime. The Canadiens scored late to tie it and went on to win in OT. I’m reminded of Grant Fuhr who, when the game was on the line, was a rock. Price is in that league.
3. Cam Talbot, Edmonton Oilers
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Of all the No. 1 goalies in this season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, Talbot is the most unproven. But he has been cool and calm, posting back-to-back shutouts against the San Jose Sharks.
I, for one, questioned the move when the Oilers acquired him to shore up their goaltending and anointed him the No. 1. I’m happy to say he has proven me wrong - and the rest of the league might want to look out. With the quality of goaltending Talbot is providing, Edmonton is for real.
2. Jake Allen, St. Louis Blues
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The last time I saw a Blues goalie dominate like this in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was in 1993, when Curtis Joseph was tending goal. En route to a 4-0 sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks, Joseph had two shutouts and stopped 134 of 140 shots to single-handedly eliminate the Blackhawks.
Allen has eerily been a mirror image of Joseph. His athleticism, positioning, and work ethic are similar to Joseph’s - and have the Blues in position to knock off the Minnesota Wild in four straight. Allen is the reason the Blues traded Brian Elliot, as they thought in the long run Allen would be the better goalie. It’s nice to see him reward the organization for believing in him.
1. Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
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Shutting out the powerhouse Blackhawks in back-to-back games to open their first-round series is no small feat. Add in the fact that Rinne did it in Chicago, in one of the most intimidating road buildings to play in, and this is the type of goaltending the Predators have been waiting for.
Rinne has long been one of the top five regular-season goalies in the National Hockey League. That’s great, but the playoffs are when you make a mark as one of the best. Rinne has never made it past the second round. This could be the year.
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