Archive for January, 2011
Ilya Bryzgalov Scouting Chart
Jan 27th
Just hours after I wrote my Casual vs. Attentive Goaltending piece, the lesson was brought to life at the start of Ilya Bryzgalov’s 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Playing his second game in two nights, Bryzgalov was way too casual on a routine clear during an early Coyotes power play. The puck went off his stick and slowly trickled into the no-play zone. Philippe Dupuis quickly raced down the ice and drew a penalty behind the net. Fifteen seconds later, Ryan Stoa caught Bryzgalov back on his heels and fired a wrist shot just under the glove and over the hip to give the Avs an early 1-0 lead.
Casual vs. Attentive Goaltending
Jan 26th
Every time I’m on the ice, my main personal goal for the day is to skate away learning something new about the goaltending position. It could be an aspect of my own game or something about the position as a whole. During my weekly Tuesday morning skate, it was a combination of both, prompting me to write this piece.
Jaroslav Halak Scouting Chart
Jan 25th
With this being Jaroslav Halak’s first season as a full-time starter in the NHL, last night’s 4-3 loss to the Avalanche proved to me that he’s currently suffering from energy drain. After he displayed sharp focus and made 15 timely saves in the first period, he was victimized twice by Brandon Yip in the second period and failed to recover. Two goals beat him five-hole along the ice, one beat him short side over the blocker and a fourth one beat him on a wraparound. Halak finished with 28 saves on 32 shots, but has now allowed four goals in each of his last five losses.
Tim Thomas Scouting Chart – January 22
Jan 23rd
Tim Thomas’ typical amorphic and dynamic hybrid butterfly style was on display in a 6-2 win on Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche. Despite being scored on just two minutes in, he didn’t allow the odd bounce off Paul Stastny and Dennis Seidenberg to distract him from playing a focused and energetic game. He was very timely in the third period and made many momentum-swinging saves during an Avalanche power-play chance in the third period. Click below to view and download our free Scouting Chart on Thomas’ game!
About Jonas Gustavsson’s Struggles
Jan 20th
Toronto Maple Leafs beat writer James Mirtle from The Globe and Mail has recently been posting some great articles on Toronto’s goaltending woes. And when it comes to the struggles between the pipes, the first name that comes to mind is Sweden’s Jonas Gustavsson. Even before last night’s 7-0 crushing defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers, Mirtle had kindly reached out to me and asked my opinion on why Gustavsson was struggling so much this year. Here’s what I had to say:
Khudobin’s Shutout Salvages His Weekend
Jan 16th
After giving up three goals on just 17 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night, Anton Khudobin bounced back with the biggest and most impressive win of his professional career. Although it was unrefined, unconventional and a bit unexpected, he made 32 saves and shut out the red-hot Vancouver Canucks in a 4-0 victory on Sunday afternoon. Click below to view our audio/visual scouting report on Khudobin, including game highlights courtesy of the NHL.com website.
Stopping the Spin-O-Rama
Jan 15th
Over the past month, we’ve seen a set of successful Spin-O-Rama moves take place in the NHL. Steve Stamkos’ penalty shot goal on Carey Price, Mikhail Grabovski’s move on Michal Neuvirth and then on Ty Conklin, Mason Raymond on Kevin Poulin earlier this week, and who could possibly forget Linus Omark’s spin move at center ice on Dan Ellis?
Lehner Beats Isles in High-Scoring Affair
Jan 13th
Allowing four goals on just 24 shots certainly wasn’t the way Ottawa Senators prospect Robin Lehner imagined his first career NHL start would play out. But by becoming the 12th youngest goaltender in NHL history to notch the accomplishment, he battled hard and came out victorious with a 6-4 win over the New York Islanders. Read below for our audio and written scouting report along with the game highlights, courtesy of the NHL.com website.
Poulin Stops 49 in 4-3 Shootout Loss
Jan 12th
Kevin Poulin followed up his first career start and win against the Avalanche with an equally impressive performance against the hottest team in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks. He stopped 19 of 20 shots in the first period and finished with 49 saves on 52 shots in a valiant 4-3 shootout loss on home ice. Click below to listen to our audio scouting report while you watch NHL.com’s highlights of the game.
Poulin Pots an OT Win in First NHL Start
Jan 9th
Despite giving up two goals in the first two minutes of his first career NHL start, Kevin Poulin’s confidence and composure helped him finish with 34 saves on 37 shots as the Islanders came from behind to beat the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3 in overtime. Read below for our audio scouting report, printable scouting chart and NHL.com’s video highlights from the game.