NHL Goalie Update

Written by Alan Carter

Tim Thomas collected 23 saves and only allowed 1 goal in the second period to Jeff O'Neill. Thomas is 10 – 3 in his last 13 starts. If Thomas continues his dominate play look for the Bruins to make a push.

Jean-Sebastien Aubin held strong against the Bruins with 23 saves keeping Boston scoreless in the first two periods. But Aubin couldn’t stop the Bruins, surrendering 3 goals in the third all in his right side.

Henrik Lundqvist stoped Sydney Crosby and Nils Ekmanas the Rangers collect a

3 – 2 win over Pittsburgh. Lundqvist played well acquiring 28 saves with two goals allowed on a penalty shot and a power play goal.

Marc-Andre Fleury was unable to hold off the Rangers who scored two third period goals and forced a shootout. Brendan Shanahan scored past Fleury left leg giving the Rangers a win.

Cristobal Huet started off shaky allowing a goal to Arron Asham only 1:20 into the game. Huet though settled down capturing 25 saves as Montreal stops it two game losing streak.

Rick DiPietro returned from a lower body injury but wasn’t greeted well by the Canadians who hounded DiPietro was hounded with 36 shots on goal. DiPietro had 32 saves but let four slip by him in an Islanders loss.

Marc Denis completed the shutout as the Lighting thrashed the Thrashers 8 – 0, pun very much intended. Denis was under control the whole game collecting 21 saves.

Kari Lehtonen suffered through five allowed goals before he was replaced by Johan Hedberg who faired no better allowing three goals on only eight shots on goal.

Jason Bacashihua suffered through 43 shots on goal and let a three goal lead slip away as the Red Wings beat the Blues 4 – 3 in overtime. Bacashihua stop 39 goals but just had too many pucks shot his way.

Dominik Hasek allowed three early goals but Hasek tightened up as did his defense. Hasek only had to deal with 12 shots on goal in the second and third period. Hasek had 18 saves in the overtime win.

Ryan Miller and the Sabers dropped a game to the Panthers who are five games under .500. The Sabers seemed slow as the Sabers got off 38 shots on goal. Miller had 35 saves but allowed three goals in the loss.

Alex Auld can thank his defense that only allowed the Sabers 18 shots on goal. Auld had 18 saves and got in the grove early only having to deal with 3 SOG in the first period. Daniel Briere scored the only Saber goal on a power play near the end of the third period.

Miikka Kiprusoff lost in a shootout allowing two goals as Wild defeat the Flames. Kiprusoff had 25 saves in the game allowing only two goals, both coming in the first period on power plays.

Manny Fernandez had a season high 38 saves in his second straight win as the Wild beat the Flames 3 – 2 in a shootout. Fernandez made a great play in over time were he quickly fell on a wraparound shot that forced the match into a shootout.

Mikael Tellqvist made his second start and played good with 30 saves and allowed only one goal. Tellqvist made four saves during the shutout as the Coyotes defeat the Blackhawks 2 – 1.

Nikolai Khabibulin had his 34 saves not mean anything as he allowed two goals in during the shootout as the Blackhawks fall to Phoenix.

Vesa Toskala suffered only his third loss of the season now putting his record at 13 – 3. Toskala had 20 saves but allowed five goals; three in the second period.

Jose Theodore played through a hip injury and led stopped 28 pucks in a 5 – 2 Colorado win. This was Theodore’s 150^th victory.

Chris Mason and the Predators took care of the Kings 4 – 1 as Nashville moves to

18-6-3 on the year. Mason had 20 saves only allowing one goal to Alexander Frolov at the start of the third period.

Dan Cloutier had 23 saves but was unable to stop the Predators during their power plays. Three of the four goals Cloutier allowed came on power plays most were slap shots over Cloutier’s legs.