Rank the Western conference starters 1-8

For me id say

1) Quick - RED HOT!
2) Rinne - RED HOT!
3) Halak- RED HOT!
4) Smith- RED HOT!
5) Howard - has cooled off a bit but cant overlook his 35 wins
6) Luongo - another 30 win season
7) Niemi - barely squeaked in but we know hes a playoff beast, hes won 5/6 series hes played in
8) Crawford - the weakest link but hoping he can regain his form from last playoffs

All close, almost all the starters are going into the post season on a roll

1) Quick
2) Rinne
3) Howard
4) Luongo
5) Smith
6) Halak
7) Niemi
8) Crawford

For me id say

1) Quick - RED HOT!


Quick completely **** the bed in BOTH games against the Sharks. Not sure how that qualifies as "red hot". He gave up 6 in a come back, then he gave 3 unanswered in a come back in back to back games.

He's elite, but far from "hot" right this moment.

1. Rinne
2. Quick
3. Howard
4. Luongo
5. Smith
6. Halak
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

1) Quick
2) Rinne

3) Halak
4) Smith
5) Luongo
6) Howard

7) Niemi
8) Crawford

1) Smith
2) Quick
3) Rinne
4) Luongo
5) Howard
6) Niemi
7) Halak
8) Crawford

Did anyone even watch Quick lately?

1) Rinne
2) Quick
3) Howard
4) Luongo
5) Smith
6) Halak
7) Niemi
8) Crawford

1.Quick
2.Halak
3.Rinne
4.Smith
5.Niemi
6.Crawford
7.Luongo
8.Howard

Quick completely **** the bed in BOTH games against the Sharks. Not sure how that qualifies as "red hot". He gave up 6 in a come back, then he gave 3 unanswered in a come back in back to back games.

He's elite, but far from "hot" right this moment.

ye i mean in the last game of the season he gave up 3 goals all of which took deflections of kings defencemen leaving him with no chance. Definitely '**** the bed'.

He has had 1 bad game in the last ~15 games and that was 2 games ago, so id say hes red hot

ye i mean in the last game of the season he gave up 3 goals all of which took deflections of kings defencemen leaving him with no chance. Definitely '**** the bed'.

He has had 1 bad game in the last ~15 games and that was 2 games ago, so id say hes red hot

Qft.

Quick
Halak/Elliott
Rinne
Smith
Luongo/Schneider
Howard
Niemi
Crawford

Rinne
Halak
Quick
Luongo
Howard
Smith
Niemi
Crawford

You could make an argument that Crawford is playing better than Niemi right now.

You could make an argument that Crawford is playing better than Niemi right now.And you'd be wrong.

Jonathan Quick
Roberto Luongo
Jaroslav Halak
Pekka Rinne
Jimmy Howard
Mike Smith
Antti Niemi
Corey Crawford

1. Smith
2. Rinne
3. Quick
4. Halak
5. Howard
6. Luongo
7. Crawford
8 Niemi

Rinne
Smith
Quick (stop blowing leads?)
Luongo
Howard
Halak/Elliot
Niemi
Crawford

Pekka Rinne
Roberto Luongo
Jonathan Quick
Jaroslav Halak
Jimmy Howard
Mike Smith
Antti Niemi
Corey Crawford

Did anyone even watch Quick lately?

Lundqvist gave up four in his last game, he must be crap too!!! Quick really had one bad game (the first against the Sharks) The last game he gave-up three goals, all of which were tipped off a Kings defenders stick. Even when you include the last two games against the Sharks, Quick has given up 10 goals in his last 6 games for a 1.66 GAA

Pekka Rinne
Roberto Luongo
Jonathan Quick
Jaroslav Halak
Jimmy Howard
Mike Smith
Antti Niemi
Corey Crawford

Really?

Rinne
Quick
Halak
Smith
Luongo
Howard
Niemi
Crawford

1- Halak - (still remembering the 2010 playoffs :amazed: )
2- Rinne - (solid pick)
3- Quick - (another solid pick)
4- Smith - (dark horse pick)
5- Howard - (...)
6- Luongo - (can be great, but can be all over the place especially in the big games)
7- Niemi - (won a Cup so I guess that counts for something but has never impressed me)
8- Crawford - (interchangeable with Niemi)

Really?

I personally believe that some goalies in the league (more so in the west) have benefitted from their team's defensive mindsets, that's why I ranked the guys in the order I did. Feel free to disagree, it's just my opinion :)

1.Quick
2.Halak
3.Rinne
4.Smith
5.Niemi
6.Crawford
7.Luongo
8.Howard

Has never watched a Western Conference game.

1. Quick
2. Smith
3. Rinne
4. Halak
5. Luongo
6. Howard
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

Quick
Smith
Rinne
Halak
Luongo
Howard

Niemi

Crawford


Gaps are intentional.

1-Jaroslav Halak
2-Pekka Rinne
3-Jonathan Quick
4-Mike Smith
5-Jimmy Howard
6-Roberto Luongo
7-Antti Niemi
8-Corey Crawford

Rinne
Quick
Luongo/Schneider
Smith
Halak/Elliot
Howard
Niemi
Crawford

Honest question, what is the reasoning behind so many people putting Howard/Smith ahead of Luongo? I would be curious to hear why.

Honest question, what is the reasoning behind so many people putting Howard/Smith ahead of Luongo? I would be curious to hear why.

I was putting Smith ahead of Luongo for his play of late (2 goals allowed in his last 5 games). I do think Bobby Lou is the better goalie overall, but right now, Smith is red-hot.

Honest question, what is the reasoning behind so many people putting Howard/Smith ahead of Luongo? I would be curious to hear why.
Stats are what you're going to get... :)


Anyway.

1) Rinne
2) Quick
3) Luongo
-
4) Halak
4) Howard
-
6) Smith
6) Niemi
-
8) Crawford

The way I see things. People love Smith as a story, and it's easy to do, with the crap he was getting in Tampa and when Phoenix signed him. He wasn't as bad as he was made out to be with the Bolts, and he isn't some entirely different goaltender this year. A friendly environment can make stats look very different. He certainly has been very good this year, but putting him in the top-3 of this group, at the very least, seems wrong to me.

Also what's the rationale with putting Rinne so high, much higher than Luongo? His stats are very similar to Luongo, especially at even strength.

I have Rinne, Quick and Luongo in the top tier, and the rest following that. Luongo is pretty underrated in here, but who cares.

Also what's the rationale with putting Rinne so high, much higher than Luongo? His stats are very similar to Luongo, especially at even strength.
These two things don't really contradict each other. ;)

I have Rinne, Quick and Luongo in the top tier, and the rest following that. Luongo is pretty underrated in here, but who cares.
Most certainly, but that can't really surprise anyone at this point, can it? :)

And you'd be wrong.

He said you could make the argument. Not that you could win it. C'mon man.


Luongo is pretty underrated in here, but who cares.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1329179424_mj-laughing1.gif

Smith
Quick
Rinne
Luongo/Schneider
Halak
Howard
Crawford
Niemi

Has never watched a Western Conference game.

That was my thought. Really? Jimmy Howard is the worst goalie of the playoff teams in the West?

At this moment right now:

1. Smith
2. Rinne
3. Howard
4. Halak
5. Quick
6. Luongo
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

Man goaltending is the west is crazy just looked at it and saw that 12 of the 15 top goalies in save% are from the west.

1. Elliott/Halak
2. Smith
3. Quick
4. Schneider/Luongo
5. Howard
6. Rinne
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

Niemi then the rest.

Rinne
Smith
Quick (stop blowing leads?)
Luongo
Howard
Halak/Elliot
Niemi
Crawford

How many leads has he blown? One? If you're suggesting he's at fault for the 3 goals he gave up unanswered, you did not watch the game; in other words, you're not credible if you form opinions without watching Kings' games.

1. Rinne
2. Halak
3. Quick
4. Luongo
5. Howard
6. Niemi
7. Smith
8. Crawford

And you'd be wrong.

March Stats
Crawford: 1.96 GAA 91.4 SV% 9 GP
Niemi: 2.20 GAA 92.1 SV% 17 GP

April States
Crawford: 1.40 GAA 94.5 SV% 2 GP
Niemi: 3.36 GAA 89.6 SV% 2 GP

They're pretty close.

Quick
Smith
Rinne
Halak






The rest of them.

1. Rinne
2. Halak
3. Smith
4. Quick
5. Howard
6. Luongo
7. Neimi
8. Crawford

nvm.

March Stats
Crawford: 1.96 GAA 91.4 SV% 9 GP
Niemi: 2.20 GAA 92.1 SV% 17 GP

April States
Crawford: 1.40 GAA 94.5 SV% 2 GP
Niemi: 3.36 GAA 89.6 SV% 2 GP

They're pretty close.Season stats

Niemi 2.42 GAA .915 SV% 6 SO

Crawford 2.72 GAA .903 SV% 0 SO

Niemi is the better goalie.

March Stats
Crawford: 1.96 GAA 91.4 SV% 9 GP
Niemi: 2.20 GAA 92.1 SV% 17 GP

April States
Crawford: 1.40 GAA 94.5 SV% 2 GP
Niemi: 3.36 GAA 89.6 SV% 2 GP

They're pretty close.
2 game sample size? Really?

Season stats

Niemi 2.42 GAA .915 SV% 6 SO

Crawford 2.72 GAA .903 SV% 0 SO

Niemi is the better goalie.

:facepalm:

My OP was referring to the better goalie RIGHT NOW

Which is largely why Mike Smith is in so many top 3's, except his hot streak is rather extended.

2 game sample size? Really?

I didn't want to calculate the 2 month aggregates. :)

1) Rinne
2) Quick
3) Smith
4) Schneider
5) Halak
6) Howard
7) Schneider/Luongo combo
8) Niemi
9) Luongo
10) Crawford

1. Quick
2. Smith
3. Halak
4. Rinne
5. Howard
6. Niemi
7. Crawford
8. Luongo

1.Rinne
2.Quick
3.Luongo
4.Howard
5.Halak
6.Smith
7.Crawford
8.Niemi

1. Quick
2. Rinne
3. Luongo
4. Halak
5. Howard
6. Smith
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

He said you could make the argument. Not that you could win it. C'mon man.




http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1329179424_mj-laughing1.gif

You mock but everyone and their mother is basically awaiting the moment of Luongo's failure, as though inevitable. He honestly has become partly underrated these days. I'm not saying he has not earned criticism however few seem willing to acknowledge how good he actually is.

1) Rinne
2) Quick
3) Luongo
4) Halak
5) Howard
6) Smith
7) Niemi
8) Crawford

1. Quick
2. Rinne
3. loungo
4. Halak
5. Smith
6. Howard
7. Neimi
8. Crawford

1) Rinne
2) Luongo
3) Halak
4) Howard
5) Quick
6) Smith
7) Crawford
8) Niemi

1. Rinne
2. Quick

Small gap

3. Halak
4. Luongo
5. Smith
6. Howard

Another drop off

7. Niemi
8. Crawford

1. Quick
2. Rinne
3. Halak

4. Howard
5. Luongo
6. Smith

7. Crawford
8. Niemi

Rinne
---
Other guys
---
Niemi/Crawford

Rinne
Quick
Luongo
Halak/Elliott
Howard
Smith
Niemi
Crawford

Rinne
---
Other guys
---
Niemi/Crawford

Basically.

1. Quick
2. Luongo
3. Smith
4. Halak/Elliot
5. Rinne
6. Howard
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

Halak/Elliot
Rinne
Quick
Luongo
Smith
Howard
Niemi
Crawford

Luongo Schneider

Rinne
Halak Elliot
Smith
Howard
Niemi
Crawford
(not so) Quick

:yo:

1. Quick
2. Luongo
3. Smith
4. Halak/Elliot
5. Rinne
6. Howard
7. Niemi
8. Crawford


Curious as to why you value Halak/Elliot more than Rinne?

1.Rinne
2.Quick
3.Niemi
4.Smith
5.Halak/Elliot
6.Howard
7.Luongo
8.Crawford

You're smoking crack if you think Howard is better than Smith as of right now

I think some goalies are more a product of their teams' styles than others. Going into the playoffs I'd rank them:
Quick
Luongo/Schneider
Rinne
Smith
Halak/Elliott
Howard
Crawford
Niemi

To me, any of the top 6 could emerge as the best goalie and steal a series. Numbers 7 and 8 are a level below the top 6.

I think some goalies are more a product of their teams' styles than others. Going into the playoffs I'd rank them:
Quick
Luongo/Schneider
Rinne
Smith
Halak/Elliott
Howard
Crawford
Niemi

To me, any of the top 6 could emerge as the best goalie and steal a series. Numbers 7 and 8 are a level below the top 6.

You think some goalies are a product of their systems, and then you rank the defensive system goalies first and the offensive system goalies last with the only exception of Halak/Elliott being right in the middle. I don't necessarily disagree just saying.

You think some goalies are a product of their systems, and then you rank the defensive system goalies first and the offensive system goalies last with the only exception of Halak/Elliott being right in the middle. I don't necessarily disagree just saying.

Yeah, I struggled with that. I gave Quick the top rating because although he is somewhat the product of a strong defensive team and has a mediocre playoff record he had a lot of pressure to play without mistakes all season as his team was very low scoring. He had a dominant season. I put Halak/Elliott in the middle because only one goalie can play in the playoffs at a time and I don't think that either one of them is as dominant as Quick/Rinne/Luongo on their own. I really feel that there is little to choose between the top 6 and any one could go on a great run. There are some very elite goalies there.

I'm curious as to why people are so high on Quick due to his great regular season numbers, and so down on Luongo (who also has consistently put up great regular season numbers). If you're going to ignore regular season play and compare the two in the playoffs, then Luongo has shown the ability to generally play well (he has had his breakdowns but his career post season stats: 59GP, 0.917 SV%, 2.50 GAA) and Quick has shown a 0.899 SV% and a 3.33 GAA (granted 12 game sample size).

Seems to me people have always knocked Luongo for 'only being good in the regular season', yet people overlook the evidence when it comes to Quick. I a not Roberto Luongo's greatest fan, nor am I a hater, I just find this odd...

Seems to me people have always knocked Luongo for 'only being good in the regular season', yet people overlook the evidence when it comes to Quick. I a not Roberto Luongo's greatest fan, nor am I a hater, I just find this odd...

My thinking was that Quick may have moved his game up to another level from earlier seasons. I therefore discounted his fairly mediocre playoff record. It is a valid point though.
I also discounted Halak's great playoff run with the Habs because it was a few years ago. Luongo had some great numbers in his early years with the Canucks too when he basically carried the team in the playoffs.

My thinking was that Quick may have moved his game up to another level from earlier seasons. I therefore discounted his fairly mediocre playoff record. It is a valid point though. I also discounted Halak's great playoff run with the Habs because it was a few years ago. Luongo had some great numbers in his early years with the Canucks too when he basically carried the team in the playoffs.

I can see where you are coming from. That said, Luongo has had 4 playoff years in his career, his first year was extraordinarily good, and 09-10 was extraordinarily poor. Removing those two outlying runs, his stats are: 35GP, 0.914 SV%, 2.54 GAA... very similar to the stats when both outlyers are included (0.917 SV%, 2.50 GAA).

1) Quick
2) Rinne

3) Halak

4) Smith
5) Luongo
6) Howard
7) Niemi
8) Crawford

Most of the posts in here seem to be ranking the goalies by the team defenses they play behind. In terms of goaltenders I'd say it probably goes roughly:

Rinne
Halak
Luongo
Quick
Smith
Howard
Niemi
Crawford

In terms of tandems I'd say it goes:

Halak/Elliot
Luongo/Schneider
Rinne/Lindback
Quick/Bernier
Smith/Labarbera
Howard/Macdonald
Niemi/Greiss
Crawford/Emery

And in terms of team defenses:

St. Louis
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Detroit
Vancouver
Nashville
Chicago
San Jose

Rinne
Quick
Howard
Halak
Luongo
Smith
Niemi
Crawford

1) Quick
2) Rinne

3) Halak

4) Smith
5) Luongo
6) Howard
7) Niemi
8) Crawford

I switch Rinne and Quick and I agree.

I'd go:

Rinne
Halak
Quick
Luongo
Smith
Howard (struggled lately since the injury it seems, I'd be a little nervous)
Niemi
Crawford

Another thing to think about, while we're ranking the starters, don't be suprised if some other guys get some action...

Schneider
Elliot
Emery

I'd feel comfortable with Schneider if Luongo falters, likewise with Elliot. Emery, not so much.

Quick
Rinne
Halak
Howard
Smith
Luongo
Niemi
Crawford

I don't know how anyone has Howard in their top three. He gets wins, but I just am not sold. He's not that good.

Anyway, for me:

1. Quick
2. Rinne
3. Halak
4. Smith
5. Luongo
6. Howard
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

1. Rinne
2. Quick
3. Luongo
4. Howard
5. Halak
6. Smith
7. Niemi
8. Crawford

Round one by save percentage. Fun to compare with predictions.

#1 Corey Schneider .960 SV%
#2 Jonathan Quick .953 SV%
#3 Mike Smith .950 SV%
#4 Brian Elliott .949 SV%
#5 Pekka Rinne .944 SV%
#6 Jaroslav Halak .935 SV%
#7 Antii Niemi .914 SV%
#8 Corey Crawford .893 SV%
#9 Roberto Luongo .891 SV%
#10 Jimmy Howard .888 SV%

You think some goalies are a product of their systems, and then you rank the defensive system goalies first and the offensive system goalies last with the only exception of Halak/Elliott being right in the middle. I don't necessarily disagree just saying.

Only the Blues goalies are a product of the system. :sarcasm:

"And another great save by a product of the system!" – John Kelly

Round one by save percentage. Fun to compare with predictions.

#1 Corey Schneider .960 SV%
#2 Jonathan Quick .953 SV%
#3 Mike Smith .950 SV%
#4 Brian Elliott .949 SV%
#5 Pekka Rinne .944 SV%
#6 Jaroslav Halak .935 SV%
#7 Antii Niemi .914 SV%
#8 Corey Crawford .893 SV%
#9 Roberto Luongo .891 SV%
#10 Jimmy Howard .888 SV%

Just so you know, Jimmy Howards save percentage is prbably the most deceiving out of the bunch.

barely faced any shots. When he did, they were point blank cross crease one timers (they converted pretty much at will, as these were post to post goals)...Nashville fans will tell you how they manhandled Detroit's defense. Funny thing is, Howard never let in more than 3, and only played 1 bad game; which was game 4.

He was still making crazy point bank saves and other great saves the whole series. Detroits defense never gave him a chance, really (nor did Nashville :laugh: ). But yea, he's down at the bottom. FUnny how Howard and Luongo are at the bottom... heh

Round one by save percentage. Fun to compare with predictions.

#1 Corey Schneider .960 SV%
#2 Jonathan Quick .953 SV%
#3 Mike Smith .950 SV%
#4 Brian Elliott .949 SV%
#5 Pekka Rinne .944 SV%
#6 Jaroslav Halak .935 SV%
#7 Antii Niemi .914 SV%
#8 Corey Crawford .893 SV%
#9 Roberto Luongo .891 SV%
#10 Jimmy Howard .888 SV%

Good for Schneider, I ain't no Canuck fan but they need to find a way to get rid of Luongo and play Corey. Kid is real good

That was my thought. Really? Jimmy Howard is the worst goalie of the playoff teams in the West?

I was right.

I was right.

YOu probably didn't even watch the games.

Tell me how a .920 2.13 goalie goes to a .888 2.64...

the save percetage and goals against don't even match. He should probably have something upward at about 3.1 or around there. Probably higher.

Point blank, post to post (not to mention basically 3 feet in front of him ) all alone Nashville players scoring on him all series.

You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you he was robbing them left and right, would you? Otherwise, his goals against wouln't be 2.64. It would be MUCH higher. Try 3.64!

For me id say

1) Quick - RED HOT!
2) Rinne - RED HOT!
3) Halak- RED HOT!
4) Smith- RED HOT!
5) Howard - has cooled off a bit but cant overlook his 35 wins
6) Luongo - another 30 win season
7) Niemi - barely squeaked in but we know hes a playoff beast, hes won 5/6 series hes played in
8) Crawford - the weakest link but hoping he can regain his form from last playoffs

All close, almost all the starters are going into the post season on a roll

and your top 4 is in round 2... ;)

good job

YOu probably didn't even watch the games.

Tell me how a .920 2.13 goalie goes to a .888 2.64...

the save percetage and goals against don't even match. He should probably have something upward at about 3.1 or around there. Probably higher.

Point blank, post to post (not to mention basically 3 feet in front of him ) all alone Nashville players scoring on him all series.

You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you he was robbing them left and right, would you? Otherwise, his goals against wouln't be 2.64. It would be MUCH higher. Try 3.64!
y
That's playoffs hockey for you, where weak goalies are exposed (Howard, Fleury, Luongo, Crawford). They don't get to pad their stats playing bad teams. I grew up watching Gerry Cheevers play and suck every year in the playoffs, so I know what it is.

Don't think Quick is "red-hot". Quick is just being Quick. He's been like this the entire season

y
That's playoffs hockey for you, where weak goalies are exposed (Howard, Fleury, Luongo, Crawford). They don't get to pad their stats playing bad teams. I grew up watching Gerry Cheevers play and suck every year in the playoffs, so I know what it is.

You're one of those posters.

If you think Howard just posts great stats against bad teams, then I don't know what to say.

Like I said, you probably never watched the series. I'm just going to leave it at that.

You're one of those posters.

If you think Howard just posts great stats against bad teams, then I don't know what to say.

Like I said, you probably never watched the series. I'm just going to leave it at that.

obviously I watched the whole series, and while i understand your point, you have to remember that he is only being compared to the other playoff goalies.

howard made a lot of good/great saves but also let a couple by that maybe he could have had, and really screwed the pooch in game 4.

Does that mean he sucks? of course not. but he still probably was one of the three worst goalies who played in round 1 (Luongo and Crawford being the other two at the bottom of the list)

I personally believe that some goalies in the league (more so in the west) have benefitted from their team's defensive mindsets, that's why I ranked the guys in the order I did. Feel free to disagree, it's just my opinion :)

you're saying that good defense helps a goalie? Total mind blowing.

You're one of those posters.

If you think Howard just posts great stats against bad teams, then I don't know what to say.

Like I said, you probably never watched the series. I'm just going to leave it at that.

Yeah that's it, I knew I was either blind or didn't watch the games. Jimmy Howard should win the Vezina.