Carolina, Vegas haven’t created environments for goalies to thrive
With the series tied 1-1 and both the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights heading to Nevada for Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, it’s safe to say that neither Frederik Andersen nor Carter Hart have played particularly well.
Hart gave up four goals in each of the series’ first two contests, while Andersen gave up five goals in Game 1, followed by a late game-tying goal on Thursday night.
On Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton are joined by former NHL goalie and ESPN analyst Darren Pang to discuss the two netminders in the Stanley Cup Final and what
Tyler Yaremchuk: Neither Andersen or Hart have strong numbers through two games. Hart made a handful of good saves in Game 2, and Andersen made a sprawling save last night. When you look at these two goalies, while their numbers aren’t great, they still get passing grades through the first two games.
Carter Hutton: They do, and again, sometimes it’s not going to be how many, it’s when you make them. Key saves in key times. You can make the argument on that wraparound save that it was a bigtime save in desperation mode, where Ivan Barbashev has you beat because you’re sprawling, but he’s smart enough to get across and seal the bottom of the ice.
The Golden Knights lose the challenge to overturn this no-goal call.
It might just be one of those series where the last save wins, right? Where the numbers are going to get driven down, and you went into this with the storyline of goaltending, and Conn Smythe Trophy potential.
Panger, do you think moving back to Vegas now, that these two guys can hunker down and nerves will calm down? Maybe we’ll see a 2-1 matchup and games are a little bit more predictable?
Darren Pang: I’m not going to bet on that one, I’m going to take the over on goals. I really think it’s just going to be one of those series. I don’t think that, honestly, either one of the goaltenders, with the way the game is frantically being played. Both teams are doing an excellent job of moving high in the offensive zone, and taking that little wrister. You saw Mitch Marner do it late in Game 2 with Mark Stone tipping it.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s hard to get traction in.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…