overpass
Registered User
- Jun 7, 2007
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- 3,603
Not trying to open a can of worms here, but a lot of work has been done isolating a lot of different "types" of goals against. Some that matter more, some that matter less... what's left? in a tight playoff game, where almost every goal has some eventual importance, what are "normal" goals that we don't either hold against the goalie to a greater extent, or whitewash away?
I mean, if they allow the first goal, that's bad. if they allow a tying goal that's bad. if they allow a winning goal, that's bad. garbage time goals get disregarded. In the dead puck era, it feels like most goals would be in one of those categories, so what's even left?
The obvious answer is close games matter more, blowouts matter less. Third period performance is either less important (because one team has a comfortable lead) or more important (because it's close). Which you know, of course.
I think the first goal can have extra importance because it can dictate how the rest of the game is played. Especially in low scoring eras where one team can park the bus and make it really hard to score. For example, the DPE Sens were very reliant on getting the first goal because they were much better at scoring on counterattacks than against a team with 5 back. So it was particularly hard if Lalime gave up the first goal. But the first goal hasn't mattered as much in more recent higher scoring seasons, because you just can't defend a lead as well. I'm sure we've all seen the difference.
So the data from teams and eras that we didn't watch can help inform which goals mattered more, if any.