Speaking of quality, you grasp of the fact that a fan is clearly responsible for a team's fortunes speaks of your overall comprehension level of how sport is played. Speaking of newsflashes: psst. Fans do not dictate who makes the playoffs.
This team was nine points up on a playoff spot when Reimer when on this little five game tear. Pretty comfortable cushion, no? Gee, wonder what happened....
Yes, I know. The rest of the season we've had quality goaltending. These last five games have just seen us go from a battle for second in the division to a bubble team. A total collapse, and a large part of that collapse is due to the goaltending we've had since Bernier went down. Not sure why this is so hard to figure out. Newsflash: Bernier has had the EXACT same team in front of him.
There is that so relevant guarantee. Psst: I'm not Daniel Alfredsson or Mark Messier.
There are bigger issues with this team, which is why we need good goaltending (see Bernier, Jonathan). When we get garbage goaltending the past couple of weeks, this is where we are (see Reimer, James). With Bernier, we are a playoff team. With Reimer as a full time starter, we are probably a lottery team this year. Starting to get the picture of how important quality goaltending is with this team?
Let me see if I can make this easier to understand. Reimer is averaging 30.4 SA this year; Ben Bishop, 28.4. Bishop's SV% is .927 with a 2.18 GAA. So he averages two shots less a game, and gives up a 1.21 goals less a game. Ergo, we were neck and neck with Tampa when Bernier went down. Now we are seven points back. The teams aren't that much different. Oddly enough, Bishop has 6 more GP than Bernier. If Bernier started four of the five he has missed, think we are still neck and neck with Tampa?
Yeah, me too.
Jesus. How hard is it to comprehend the "five game losing streak?" Is that not what has this team on the ropes right now? Want me to go pick out a couple of games from October when Reimer started, to make your argument a little more valid?
Well, yeah, that is rather obvious, isn't it? I am not saying this is a great team with ***** goaltending. This is a very average team spoiled by great goaltending. I said as much yesterday. Now that this average team is getting far below-average goaltending, you get a five-game losing streak. You are arguing against yourself.
Speaking of "facts", that is why Bernier is the #1, and Reimer is a backup. Bernier is doing what a true starter does. Great goalies make mediocre teams better. See Ben Bishop and Carey Price - and yes, Jonathan Bernier. Thanks for making my point for me.
Wow. Another "fact". The "fact" is this: Reimer has, in the past, been a very adequate goalie for us. This year, the "fact" is his SV% has him rubbing shoulders with Robin Lehner, Carter Hutton and Ondrej Pavelec. Bernier, with the same team in front of him, is sixth in the league. Them's the facts.
It's nothing against James Reimer. I like him. He's a nice enough young man. He was given a fair shake to run with this job, and just hasn't got the job done since Christmas. It's not personal. It's just the "facts."
