In goal this week: 14

In goal this week Week 27 *ending on Sunday, April 7^th 2008* With Goalies’World Magazine editor, Gilles Moffet Goalies’World final rankings A 3^rd title for Martin Brodeur For a second straight year Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, finished the regular season on top of the Goalies’World rankings with a 44-27-6, 0.920, 2.17 record including 4 shutouts. His outstanding record gives him a total of 107.2 points and a 0.5 point lead over Tomas Vokoun (30-29-8, 0.919, 2.68) of the Florida Panther in second place. Roberto Luongo (35-29-9, 0.917, 2.38) of the Vancouver Canucks, Henrik Lundqvist (37-24-10, 0.912, 2.23) of the New York Rangers and Ilya Bryzgalov (28-25-6-, 0.920, 2.44) of the Phoenix Coyotes follow in our rankings. Ironically, three of our top five goalies play on teams that did not qualify for the playoffs and that’s fair game. Our rankings were designed to evaluate the goalies on an individual basis as independently as possible as the team they play for. Last year nine of our Top Ten goalies were on playoff teams and this year there are only six. Ryan Miller (no. 7) of the Buffalo Sabres is also part of our Top Ten. Last year Brodeur won the Goalies’World title with 107.9 points and a slightly better record than this year, i.e. 48-23-7, 0.922, 2.18. It’s a 3^rd NHL Goalies’World title for Brodeur who also won in 1995-96 (our first year of publication) and in 2006-07. Brodeur also won our 1991-92 title in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the St. Hyacinthe Laser. Brodeur took the lead of our 2007-08 rankings six week ago and never looked back. My pick for the Vezina Trophy Martin Brodeur all the way Most of the time our computer rankings agree with the vote for the Vezina Trophy but not always and that’s OK because otherwise it wouldn’t be fun. The Vezina Trophy is voted by the 30 general managers and this year I don’t see how they can vote for anyone else than Brodeur who also get my personal vote. My prediction for the Vezina Trophy official vote is that Brodeur will edge Evgeni Nabokov (46-21-8, 0.910, 2.14) of the San Jose Sharks and Henrik Lundqvist (37-24-10, 0.912, 2.23) of the New York Rangers. General managers look at wins and goals-against average first. We first look at save percentages and at the work load (shots per game and games played). Nabokov (leader in wins with 47) and Lundqvist (leader in shutouts with 10) played on better defensive teams than Brodeur. My three final picks for the Vezina slightly differ from the computer rankings and would be in order, Brodeur (44-27-6, 0.920, 2.17 ) Vokoun, Nabokov. Brodeur played as many games as Nabokov (77) and even spent more time in the crease, only had two fewer wins than Nabokov but was way more efficient (0.920 vs 0.910). I keep Vokoun ahead of Nabokov. OK, he played only 69 games compared to 77 for Nabokov but he faced 2213 shots compared to 1829 fo Nabokov and his save percengate (0.919) is much better than Nabokov (0.910). In order for Nabokov to receive 2213 shots like Vokoun he would need to play 93 games with the Sharks. Isn’t that amazing? I bet you that the general managers won’t consider this and that Vokoun won’t be among the three finalists. Goalies’World goalie of the week Carey Price almost perfect The last week of the season is always a special one and the Goalie of the Week honor goes to a special goalie, the 20-year old Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. Price only gave up two goals in three games, turning in a very impressive 3-0-0, 0.977, 0.67 record. Price started the week with a 3-0, 32 saves road shutout in Ottawa before winning 3-1 at home against Buffalo (27 saves) and 3-1 (26 saves) against Toronto. Goalies’World Rookie of the year Carey Price over Harding/Smith There is no doubt that 20-year old Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens is the rookie of the year in goal. Price fnished 22^nd overall in our rankings with a 24-12-3, 0.920, 2.56 record in 41 games. He also landed the number one job. His biggest rival was 23-year old Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild. Harding turned in an 11-15-2, 0.908, 2.94 record and ranked 34^th at Goalies’World. The 39^th ranked goalie, Mike Smith (Dallas and Tampa Bay) is our 3^rd rookie with a 15-19-0, 0.901, 2.59 record. Goalies’World printed version Issue 67 on Pascal Leclaire Issue 67 of Goalies’World Magazine is on the newsstands and our popular illustrated style analysis features the NHL shutout leader, Pascal lecl, of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Goalies’World Top Ten 1- Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) 2- Tomas Vokoun (Florida) 3- Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) 4- Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers) 5- Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix) 6- Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose) 7- Martin Biron (Philadelphia) 8- Ryan Miller (Buffalo) 9- Tim Thomas (Boston) 10- Miikka Kiprusoff, (Calgary) New! Out of the Top Ten J.S. Giguere, Anaheim Goalies’World rankings leaders Week 1 Pascal Leclaire (Columbus) Week 2 Olaf Kolzig (Washington) Week 3 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 4 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 5 Pascal Leclaire (Columbus) Week 6 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 7 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 8 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 9 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 10 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 11 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 12 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 13 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 14 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 15 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 16 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 17 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 18 Tim Thomas (Boston) Week 19 Tomas Vokoun (Florida) Week 20 Tomas Vokoun (Florida) Week 21 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) Week 22 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) Week 23 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) Week 24 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) Week 25 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) Week 26 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) Week 27 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey) Hot game of the week 36 saves shutout by Lehtonen Kari Lehtonen, of the Atlanta Thrashers finished the season on a strong note, giving up only one goal in his last two games. On Monday in Tampa Bay he was perfect stopping 36 shots in a 2-0 road shutout. Goalies’World rookie of the week Carey Price, who else? Well, if Carey Price is our Goalie of the Week, he is certainly our Rookie of the week. NHL debut None this week Injured Manny Fernandez (Boston, knee sprain), Jason LaBarbera (Los Angeles hernia), Rick DiPietro (NY Islanders, hip), Manny Legace (St. Louis, hip) Back from injuries Pascal Leclaire (Columbus, concussion), Mathieu Garon (Edmonton, ankle) It’s been a red hot week for Kari Lehtonen (Atlanta), Jocelyn Thibault (Buffalo), Curtis Joseph (Calgary), Patrick Lalime (Chicago), Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota), Carey Price (Montreal), Cristobal Huet (Washington) * Includes goalies with save percentage above 0.950. It’s been a very tough week for Fredrick Norrena (Columbus), Dan Cloutier (Los Angeles), Chris Mason (Nashville), Joey McDonald (NY Islanders), Vesa Toskala (Toronto), Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) * Includes goalies with save percentage below 0.850 Stolen win of the week 48 saves shutout by Dubielewicz Wade Dubielewicz led the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers, Friday at Madison Square Garden, turning aside 48 of 51 shots. That’s the steal of the week although the one by Dwayne Roloson (Edmonton Oilers) in Vancouver on Friday deserves consideration, Rollie the Goalie stopped 37 of 38 shots in a 2-1 road win that sent the Canucks golfing. A goalie is credited with a stolen victory when he wins in spite of his team being outshot by 10 shots or more. He also has to have a 0.900 save percentage in that game. .

In goal this week

Week 27 ending on Sunday, April 7^th 2008

With Goalies’World Magazine editor, Gilles Moffet

Goalies’World final rankings

A 3^rd title for Martin Brodeur

For a second straight year Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, finished the regular season on top of the Goalies’World rankings with a 44-27-6, 0.920, 2.17 record including 4 shutouts. His outstanding record gives him a total of 107.2 points and a 0.5 point lead over Tomas Vokoun (30-29-8, 0.919, 2.68) of the Florida Panther in second place. Roberto Luongo (35-29-9, 0.917, 2.38) of the Vancouver Canucks, Henrik Lundqvist (37-24-10, 0.912, 2.23) of the New York Rangers and Ilya Bryzgalov (28-25-6-, 0.920, 2.44) of the Phoenix Coyotes follow in our rankings. Ironically, three of our top five goalies play on teams that did not qualify for the playoffs and that’s fair game. Our rankings were designed to evaluate the goalies on an individual basis as independently as possible as the team they play for. Last year nine of our Top Ten goalies were on playoff teams and this year there are only six. Ryan Miller (no. 7) of the Buffalo Sabres is also part of our Top Ten. Last year Brodeur won the Goalies’World title with 107.9 points and a slightly better record than this year, i.e. 48-23-7, 0.922, 2.18. It’s a 3^rd NHL Goalies’World title for Brodeur who also won in 1995-96 (our first year of publication) and in 2006-07. Brodeur also won our 1991-92 title in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the St. Hyacinthe Laser. Brodeur took the lead of our 2007-08 rankings six week ago and never looked back.

My pick for the Vezina Trophy

Martin Brodeur all the way

Most of the time our computer rankings agree with the vote for the Vezina Trophy but not always and that’s OK because otherwise it wouldn’t be fun. The Vezina Trophy is voted by the 30 general managers and this year I don’t see how they can vote for anyone else than Brodeur who also get my personal vote.

My prediction for the Vezina Trophy official vote is that Brodeur will edge Evgeni Nabokov (46-21-8, 0.910, 2.14) of the San Jose Sharks and Henrik Lundqvist (37-24-10, 0.912, 2.23) of the New York Rangers. General managers look at wins and goals-against average first. We first look at save percentages and at the work load (shots per game and games played). Nabokov (leader in wins with 47) and Lundqvist (leader in shutouts with 10) played on better defensive teams than Brodeur.

My three final picks for the Vezina slightly differ from the computer rankings and would be in order, Brodeur (44-27-6, 0.920, 2.17 ) Vokoun, Nabokov. Brodeur played as many games as Nabokov (77) and even spent more time in the crease, only had two fewer wins than Nabokov but was way more efficient (0.920 vs 0.910). I keep Vokoun ahead of Nabokov. OK, he played only 69 games compared to 77 for Nabokov but he faced 2213 shots compared to 1829 fo Nabokov and his save percengate (0.919) is much better than Nabokov (0.910). In order for Nabokov to receive 2213 shots like Vokoun he would need to play 93 games with the Sharks. Isn’t that amazing? I bet you that the general managers won’t consider this and that Vokoun won’t be among the three finalists.

Goalies’World goalie of the week

Carey Price almost perfect

The last week of the season is always a special one and the Goalie of the Week honor goes to a special goalie, the 20-year old Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. Price only gave up two goals in three games, turning in a very impressive 3-0-0, 0.977, 0.67 record. Price started the week with a 3-0, 32 saves road shutout in Ottawa before winning 3-1 at home against Buffalo (27 saves) and 3-1 (26 saves) against Toronto.

Goalies’World Rookie of the year

Carey Price over Harding/Smith

There is no doubt that 20-year old Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens is the rookie of the year in goal. Price fnished 22^nd overall in our rankings with a 24-12-3, 0.920, 2.56 record in 41 games. He also landed the number one job. His biggest rival was 23-year old Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild. Harding turned in an 11-15-2, 0.908, 2.94 record and ranked 34^th at Goalies’World. The 39^th ranked goalie, Mike Smith (Dallas and Tampa Bay) is our 3^rd rookie with a 15-19-0, 0.901, 2.59 record.

Goalies’World printed version

Issue 67 on Pascal Leclaire

Issue 67 of Goalies’World Magazine is on the newsstands and our popular illustrated style analysis features the NHL shutout leader, Pascal lecl, of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Goalies’World Top Ten

1- Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

2- Tomas Vokoun (Florida)

3- Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

4- Henrik Lundqvist (Rangers)

5- Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix)

6- Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose)

7- Martin Biron (Philadelphia)

8- Ryan Miller (Buffalo)

9- Tim Thomas (Boston)

10- Miikka Kiprusoff, (Calgary) New!

Out of the Top Ten

J.S. Giguere, Anaheim

Goalies’World rankings leaders

Week 1 Pascal Leclaire (Columbus)

Week 2 Olaf Kolzig (Washington)

Week 3 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 4 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 5 Pascal Leclaire (Columbus)

Week 6 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 7 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 8 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 9 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 10 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 11 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 12 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 13 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 14 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 15 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 16 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 17 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 18 Tim Thomas (Boston)

Week 19 Tomas Vokoun (Florida)

Week 20 Tomas Vokoun (Florida)

Week 21 Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

Week 22 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

Week 23 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

Week 24 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

Week 25 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

Week 26 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

Week 27 Martin Brodeur (New Jersey)

Hot game of the week

36 saves shutout by Lehtonen

Kari Lehtonen, of the Atlanta Thrashers finished the season on a strong note, giving up only one goal in his last two games. On Monday in Tampa Bay he was perfect stopping 36 shots in a 2-0 road shutout.

Goalies’World rookie of the week

Carey Price, who else?

Well, if Carey Price is our Goalie of the Week, he is certainly our Rookie of the week.

NHL debut

None this week

Injured

Manny Fernandez (Boston, knee sprain), Jason LaBarbera (Los Angeles hernia), Rick DiPietro (NY Islanders, hip), Manny Legace (St. Louis, hip)

Back from injuries

Pascal Leclaire (Columbus, concussion), Mathieu Garon (Edmonton, ankle)

It’s been a red hot week for

Kari Lehtonen (Atlanta), Jocelyn Thibault (Buffalo), Curtis Joseph (Calgary), Patrick Lalime (Chicago), Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota), Carey Price (Montreal), Cristobal Huet (Washington)

* Includes goalies with save percentage above 0.950.

It’s been a very tough week for

Fredrick Norrena (Columbus), Dan Cloutier (Los Angeles), Chris Mason (Nashville), Joey McDonald (NY Islanders), Vesa Toskala (Toronto), Roberto Luongo (Vancouver)

* Includes goalies with save percentage below 0.850

Stolen win of the week

48 saves shutout by Dubielewicz

Wade Dubielewicz led the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers, Friday at Madison Square Garden, turning aside 48 of 51 shots. That’s the steal of the week although the one by Dwayne Roloson (Edmonton Oilers) in Vancouver on Friday deserves consideration, Rollie the Goalie stopped 37 of 38 shots in a 2-1 road win that sent the Canucks golfing.

A goalie is credited with a stolen victory when he wins in spite of his team being outshot by 10 shots or more. He also has to have a 0.900 save percentage in that game.