Getting a shutout should (and was) similar to a no-hitter in baseball. It was a special occasion where the goalie stood on his head and made miraculous saves.. it was fun to witness.Imagine the guys today travelling by train, very basic equipment, small support staff and the ever-present risk of being sent to the minors. No goalie coach back then as well. Jacques Plante won 5 cups in a row and ended up in the minors for a while the season after. There's little comparison to playing goal then and now.
Nowadays, theyre just mechanical.. and it's starting to show... the position is simply an extension of formation; which is why sv% is their goto stat, and less so GAA (which is what it should be).