GDT: GM45: Caps @ Sens - 7pm EST

[Marshall]

No such thing as an ugly road win, but this was close.

 

[tycoonheart]

They looked good in the 3rd. Looked miserable in the 2nd.

LT has been incredible. I hope he is the starter even when Chucky comes back.

 

[Kuz]

Talk about balanced mins from the D pairs. 5 of 6 played 20+ mins. TVR with 17n1/2 mins. Strome 86% on draws and PLD close to 56%!


LT is starting to creep up on Helle!

I wouldnt say he is creeping up, but rather not loosing ground.

Still Helle has the most games played, most wins, most saves, best save %, best goal against average and the most shutouts.

LT is third in GAA and save % and is 4th in wins. He needs to have a higher workload to close in on Helle while keeping up his current numbers.

Whats interesting is how well Kuemper is doing. Second in GAA and tied for third with LT on save %.

Looks like a win for both teams that trade. PLD being a stud in Washington and Kuemper providing solid goaltending for LAK.

 

[Kazer]

I wouldnt say he is creeping up, but rather not loosing ground.

Still Helle has the most games played, most wins, most saves, best save %, best goal against average and the most shutouts.

LT is third in GAA and save % and is 4th in wins. He needs to have a higher workload to close in on Helle while keeping up his current numbers.

Whats interesting is how well Kuemper is doing. Second in GAA and tied for third with LT on save %.

Looks like a win for both teams that trade. PLD being a stud in Washington and Kuemper providing solid goaltending for LAK.

As you accurately stated, Hellebuyck probably cannot be caught unless he comes back to the pack. But LT has clearly put himself in the conversation for 2nd or 3rd. I tend to look at hockeyreference's GSAA model, with some other consideration (GP/team quality/defense quality) to determine who should win the Vezina. Here are the top 5 (in GSAA):

Hellebuyck - 28.0
Thompson - 16.2
Blackwood - 14.9
Kuemper - 12.5 (T - ranked Kuemper higher for more starts)
Stolarz - 12.5 (T)
<Gustavsson right behind this group with Daccord, Vasi, Markstrom, and Wolf rounding out the top 10)

Thompson is pretty low on starts (24) against Hellebuyck (36 starts) and some of the others in the top 10 (Blackwood has 29; Gustavsson has 31; and both Vasi and Markstrom have 34). That might be the thing that holds him back the most assuming Lindgren returns soon which appears likely.

 

[trick9]

Just sign the man before he gets more media coverage.

Great win. Was a really tight defensive game but they found another gear in the 3rd and Sens really had nothing going after that.

 

[ovikovy817]

Ovi. Simply sensational.
LEGEND.

 

[Midnight Judges]

That OT goal was fun to watch. Nice shot placement on a rolling puck.

 

[zappa4ever]

welp if you're gonna win 1-0 that's a great way to get it done!
Freaky that we're in 1st by a large margin all of a sudden

 

[Maruk moustache]

As you accurately stated, Hellebuyck probably cannot be caught unless he comes back to the pack. But LT has clearly put himself in the conversation for 2nd or 3rd. I tend to look at hockeyreference's GSAA model, with some other consideration (GP/team quality/defense quality) to determine who should win the Vezina. Here are the top 5 (in GSAA):

Hellebuyck - 28.0
Thompson - 16.2
Blackwood - 14.9
Kuemper - 12.5 (T - ranked Kuemper higher for more starts)
Stolarz - 12.5 (T)
<Gustavsson right behind this group with Daccord, Vasi, Markstrom, and Wolf rounding out the top 10)

Thompson is pretty low on starts (24) against Hellebuyck (36 starts) and some of the others in the top 10 (Blackwood has 29; Gustavsson has 31; and both Vasi and Markstrom have 34). That might be the thing that holds him back the most assuming Lindgren returns soon which appears likely.

I keep wondering these three things:

(1) Is it better for Thompson (and his stats) just in general to get the relatively large amount of rest he gets from being in a platoon?

(2) If you are pretty sure Thompson will be played like a traditional goalie in the playoffs, will it be better for him while in the playoffs for him to have gotten the rest he would get from being in a platoon all regular season?

(3) Can someone please tell me that there will definitely not be a platoon in the playoffs?

 

[Ridley Simon]

I keep wondering these three things:

(1) Is it better for Thompson (and his stats) just in general to get the relatively large amount of rest he gets from being in a platoon?

(2) If you are pretty sure Thompson will be played like a traditional goalie in the playoffs, will it be better for him while in the playoffs for him to have gotten the rest he would get from being in a platoon all regular season?

(3) Can someone please tell me that there will definitely not be a platoon in the playoffs?

1. Probably
2. Probably
3. No. But I doubt it