The most difficult decision a coach has to make, according to Jon Cooper, is yanking a goaltender.
“You want your guys to succeed,” the playoff-bound Lightning coach told us earlier this week, “and to pull them out of games is always tough.”
Last spring during his first NHL post-season, Cooper faced a goaltending nightmare heading into his opening round series versus Montreal. Sure-fire No. 1 Ben Bishop was out with an injury, so Cooper placed backup Anders Lindback in the crease to start the series.
But when Lindback struggled, dropping Game 1 and giving up three goals in Game 2, Cooper pulled him for rookie Kristers Gudlevskis. Lindback started Game 3 and lost. He got a chance to redeem himself in Game 4, but was pulled for the second time in four games after giving up three goals on 18 shots. Gudlevskis played better, but it was too late. The Bolts were swept.
In short, the Tampa crease was a mess.
Sure, there are some wonderful tales of surprise goaltending performances in the playoffs — most recently Montreal’s Dustin Tokarski — but typically it pays to enter the tournament with a clear-cut, healthy No. 1 owning the coach’s unwavering confidence.
Elite netminders such as Carey Price, Ben Bishop, Henrik Lundqvist (yes, despite Cam Talbot’s excellent relief work), Pekka Rinne and Devan Dubnyk should have a stranglehold on the starter’s gig when the Stanley Cup tournament begins.
But not every playoff contender has a clear-cut backbone manning the pipes. Here are seven post-season hopefuls with muddy goalie situations. Cue the quick hook.
Jimmy Howard vs. Petr Mrazek
While Howard has the contract and experience befitting a Number 1, the 23-year-old Mrazek has a better save percentage (.915) and a better record (15-7-2) this season. Despite standing on his head Tuesday versus Ottawa, Mrazek lost in a shootout and suffered his second consecutive loss.
But Howard has earned just six victories since December, and coach Mike Babcock is challenging them both.
“Obviously, one of these guys has got to grab it,” Babcock told ESPN.
Said Howard, who is signed through 2020, “When my number’s called again, I will be out there and I will play and I will be good.”
Best bet to start Game 1: Mrazek
Craig Anderson vs. Andrew Hammond
Though Boston’s winning ways have nudged Ottawa back into wild-card underdog status, coach Dave Cameron’s decision to go back to the Hamburglar for Tuesday’s crucial win over Detroit is telling.
Anderson, the veteran coming off an injury, has lost his last three starts and hasn’t kept the opposition to fewer than three goals since Jan. 15. But he has 23 more playoff games than the rookie (and a nice .926 post-season save percentage).
Hammond has crawled out of a rock to register a .938 save percentage, a 15-1-1 record, and a free-burgers-for-life gift card.
Best bet to start Game 1: Hammond
John Gibson vs. Frederik Andersen
The Ducks have had four different goaltenders appear in at least five games for them this season — odd for the first-place club in the league, no? Andersen carried the load early this season, but rookie Gibson (and his team-best .916 save percentage) have been getting the call down the stretch. Four of his last five starts have been wins.
Best bet to start Game 1: Gibson
Ryan Miller vs. Eddie Lack
New general manager Jim Benning didn’t trust Lack enough to give him the ball at the beginning of the season, so he went out and signed the most proven UFA goalie on the market in Miller. Since Miller tweaked his knee in February however, Lack has won 10 times and the Canucks haven’t missed a beat. They’re on pace for home ice in Round 1.
Miller’s recovery is on schedule and he should be good to go sometime in the first round, but the warmed-up Lack has earned the right to keep Vancouver’s momentum rolling into the post-season. It should be a short leash, though.
Best bet to start Game 1: Lack
Brian Elliott vs. Jake Allen
With young Allen getting great results of late — earning the Blues points in 10 of his last 11 decisions — coach Ken Hitchcock felt it necessary to clarify Elliott as his No. 1 this week.
“There come times during the year when you see your backup really play exceptionally well, you’ve got to give him a little bit of a carrot there,” Hitchcock told reporters. “[Elliott] is the starter…. He’ll play the majority of the games leading up to the playoffs here.”
That’s fair. But Elliott’s playoff history is far from impressive (6-10, 2.55 GAA, .898 save percentage), so expect Allen to jump in if the Blues falter.
Best bet to start Game 1: Elliott
Jonas Hiller vs. Karri Ramo
Few teams have split starting goalie duties as frequently as Calgary, whose duo has put up comparable stats.
Hiller has the edge in save percentage (.914 to Ramo’s .912), experience (12-12 record in 26 playoff appearances; Ramo has none) and contract status (Ramo is a free agent this summer). But coach Bob Hartley has done a nice job of keeping both goalies busy.
It could be a win-and-stay-in situation.
Best bet to start Game 1: Hiller
Ondrej Pavelec vs. Michael Hutchinson
Just when it appeared rookie Hutchinson had wrested the starter’s gig away from Pavelec this winter for good, the Czech caught fire in March and earned the NHL’s Player of the Week. But with Pavelec losing his last two outings, the door has opened a crack.
Expect this battle to go down to the wire, just like the Jets’ playoff hopes.
Best bet to start Game 1: Pavelec