USA Goaltending...

[TVanek26*]

Learn to support whomever wears our country's colors

Nope,not with Don Waddell in charge.Hopefully they get lit up for 10 goals a game

 

[DaMick]

Nope,not with Don Waddell in charge.Hopefully they get lit up for 10 goals a game

..nevermind its pointless





God forbid an American actually cheers for his country in an international sport.

 

[Roo]

If Miller was in net for USA, i would say they could compete for a medal. But with Esche, Grahame and DiPietro, i don think they have much of a chance.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

If Miller was in net for USA, i would say they could compete for a medal. But with Esche, Grahame and DiPietro, i don think they have much of a chance.

I don't think we'll know until the games start. Esche and DiPietro have played under difficult circumstances this year and Grahame hasn't competed in international competition in awhile. It should be noted that he has the best save percentage amongst NHL goaltenders in the month of January.........

 

[joshjull]

I don't think we'll know until the games start. Esche and DiPietro have played under difficult circumstances this year and Grahame hasn't competed in international competition in awhile. It should be noted that he has the best save percentage amongst NHL goaltenders in the month of January.........

This isn't an attack but what were Esche's difficult circumstance? I know what Ricky's are (an ahl defense in front of him).

 

[Rabid Ranger]

This isn't an attack but what were Esche's difficult circumstance? I know what Ricky's are (an ahl defense in front of him).

He was injured for awhile and Philly's defense isn't doing him any favors. Personally, I don't think he's played all that poorly.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Learn to support whomever wears our country's colors

I don't think he wasn't supporting them, he was just stating a fact. Team USA just isn't that good this year.

 

[joshjull]

He was injured for awhile and Philly's defense isn't doing him any favors. Personally, I don't think he's played all that poorly.

I thought he played well at times last night especially the 1st, he was under seige for much of the game. He gave up some soft goals but he was getting peppered. Boy is Philly's Defense slow.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I thought he played at times last night especially the 1st, he was under seige for much of the game. He gave up some soft goals but he was getting peppered. Boy is Philly's Defense slow.

I don't think Esche is at his best right now, but I don't think he's horrible. I know what he can do (such as in the Stanley Cup playoffs and World Cup), so until he disappoints, I'll hold him to that standard, at least in international play.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I don't think he wasn't supporting them, he was just stating a fact. Team USA just isn't that good this year.

Good compared to what? I think this squad will be better than the World Cup team, and that team was within a hair of the championship game. I don't think the U.S. will win gold, but a medal is certainly POSSIBLE.

 

[gobolt7]

John Grahame has now had 3 shutouts in his last 4 games. Why is he not getting any hype forthe starting job? He is going into the tournament hot.

I dont get it??

 

[David]

As a Canadian, I'm just glad that these American brain trusts continue to have brains farts and leave guys like Ryan Miller out in favour of The Rick.

The last thing Canada wants is another Mike Richter (a la '96 World Cup) type of performance in a 2 week tournament!!!

 

[TVanek26*]

Miller shuts down the best offense in the league and stops all 3 Sens in the shootout.Boy am I happy we're putting the team in the hands of Rick DiPietro

 

[SChan*]

Miller shuts down the best offense in the league and stops all 3 Sens in the shootout.Boy am I happy we're putting the team in the hands of Rick DiPietro

There is no doubt anymore. Miller would increase US chances by 50%.
Better hope for a goalie injury I guess.

 

[NYIsles1*]

Miller shuts down the best offense in the league and stops all 3 Sens in the shootout.Boy am I happy we're putting the team in the hands of Rick DiPietro

If DiPietro is the starting goaltender maybe you should be, that's two games in a week he won with forty plus save efforts.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hocke...ports-headlines
Alan Hahn:

DiPietro made seven saves in overtime and then stopped both shootout attempts he faced in one of his best performances of the season. It was one of DiPietro's best games. Even with the four goals he allowed, he overcame a swarming Penguins offense, which pelted him with 44 shots, and a scrambling Islanders defense.

"It was unbelievable," Satan said of the saves against Surovy. "The save he made there, it looked like from the bench that probably would go in. Then the rebound after it, he was laying on the ice . . . .miraculously, he saved it."

The Islanders' defense, which again played without Alexei Zhitnik (ankle), was pushed so deep that DiPietro had to start shoving his own teammates out of his way just to see the puck. " "Between the third period and overtime," Shaw said, "he had that look in his eye that you knew he was going to do whatever it took to keep the puck out of the net."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/h...9p-329801c.html
Isles ride Rick & Miro past Pens

Peter Botte:
But DiPietro's substandard goals-against average (3.46) has been a byproduct of many factors beyond his own shakiness - namely a chaotic defense in front of him and a general lack of discipline by the Isles all season.

To wit, each of the Pens' four goals yesterday came on their 11 power play chances - including two goals during 5-on-3 advantages. But DiPietro was particularly dynamic in the third period and overtime, including a denial of Ric Jackman off the rush and combination pad stops on Tomas Surovy in close.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tri...e/s_420797.html

It was a fine performance by the guy on the other end, though. Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro made 40 saves, and it seemed that as the Penguins got better and better as the game went on, so did he. He made 25 of his saves in the second and third periods, and stopped all seven shots in an overtime period that the Penguins controlled.

"DiPietro was great, he stole the game," Therrien said. "I believe we played a great game, besides a few mistakes. I believe we deserve better results. We worked hard, we were aggressive and I really like the way we played."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06036/650375.stm
Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

DiPietro, superb throughout the game, might have done his best work with about 1:50 left in overtime. Penguins winger Tomas Surovy collected a rebound in front of the net, but couldn't get it past the left skate of DiPietro, who then teamed up with two Islanders to keep a Sidney Crosby follow-up out of the net.

 

[Butchered]

Grahame has been mighty hot as of late. 3 of his last 4 starts ending in shutouts. After a pretty nasty December, I believe I saw that he had the lowest GAA (1.36?) and highest SV% in the NHL through the month of January, don't kill me if I'm wrong on that one though. Granted he might not get as many starts with the goalie musical chairs Tampa plays with, but those are impressive numbers.

1/3: Stoped 36 of 36 for a win
1/7: Ugly night. Stopped 26 of 31 in a loss.
1/17: Stopped 22 of 23 for the win.
1/21 and 26: Stopped 20 of 20 against both Caps and Devils for wins.
1/29: Stopped 22 of 24 in a loss
2/4: Stopped 29 of 29 for a win.

 

[gobolt7]

John Grahame has now had 3 shutouts in his last 4 games. Why is he not getting any hype forthe starting job? He is going into the tournament hot.

I dont get it??

Sometimes, I feel like I am talking to myself in these threads.

 

[Sotnos]

Sometimes, I feel like I am talking to myself in these threads.

Yeah, I was coming here to sing Grahame's praises too, but it seems like people have their minds made up already. They'd rather ***** about Miller than look at who we have and be positive about it.

 

[MayDay]

Miller put in another fine performance last night. Giving up only one goal to the Sens, and then stoning all three Sens shooters in the SO.

Miller is rapidly proving himself not just the best American goaltender, but one of the tops in the league.

 

[DaMick]

Yeah, I was coming here to sing Grahame's praises too, but it seems like people have their minds made up already. They'd rather ***** about Miller than look at who we have and be positive about it.

yeah no ****,it seems like its become a Miller Fanboy thread

 

[Sotnos]

yeah no ****,it seems like its become a Miller Fanboy thread

Looks like it!

 

[Rover*]

Miller!

 

[SChan*]

miller is like twice the talent over the other USA goaltenders.

 

[gobolt7]

Last 5 games

Ryan Miller
5-0
1.98 GAA
.933 Save %
10 Goals against
0 Shutouts

John Grahame
4-1
0.60 GAA
.974 Save %
3 Goals against
3 Shutouts

Now, exept for the 3-4 Tampa fans, there is no one talking about the goalie that is on the team, and playing better than Ryan Miller. (With all do respect to him, he is having a great year.) What gives???

 

[Rover*]

Grahame has played better lately and I personally think esche is the one that doesn't belong and miller should take his spot. However, grahame hasn't been consistent this year, which is why you always hear rumours about tampa looking for a goalie. Even the tb coach a few weeks ago said his goaltending was not where he wanted it to be. Until his 5th shutout his save % was under .900 and now it is barely above at .902. To have 5 shutouts are barely be above .900 tells you something about a goalie's consistency. Checking out his gamelog, it seems he goes in streaks of good and bad games.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/1725/gamelog;_ylt=AuZHUSGfJDjYn8bRpw7ACCxivLYF

Overall

Miller 18-7-0 2.18 .925 0SO Miller has allowed more than 3 goals in a game only 3 times this season. Miller has allowed 1 goal or less 10 times this season.
Grahame 20-15-1 2.60 .902 5SO Grahame has allowed more than 3 goals in a game 12 times this season. Grahame has allowed 1 goal or less 10 times this season.