Do we make the argument for Quick to start in the Olympics?

baldhedjer · 02-08-2010, 11:49 PM

Is it time to begin to make the argument for Jonathan Quick to get the starting nod at goaltender for Team USA in the Olympics? Tim Thomas has been replaced in net lately by Tuuka Rask, and Ryan Miller and the Sabres have been slumping of late. Quick already holds the title of most wins in the league, shouldn't he get some consideration as the starting goaltender for Team USA?

Sabrenator · 02-09-2010, 11:10 AM

Miller's been slumping of late mostly because of the defense in front of him as plummeted. He has shown some signs of fatigue ex. going down early but I still think he should start.

Besides Wilson has already spoken about Miller being the No. 1

http://www.sportingnews.com/olympics...lay-every-game

Habspatrol · 02-09-2010, 11:14 AM

That's not a good argument for Miller.... he's been showing signs of fatigue?

That being said, I would definitely go with Miller. If he does struggle though I would feel quite confident putting Quick in.

Sabrenator · 02-09-2010, 11:17 AM

I'd say going down early is the biggest problem for him so far in this slump. Also, no doubt for me that Quick is No. 2 with Thomas going downhill.

Cheech · 02-09-2010, 07:52 PM

Ryan Miller has the best save percentage in the league, and the 3rd best GAA. Quick however is not in the top 5 in either, 28th in save percentage, and 19th in GAA. Miller also has 5 SO compared to Quick's 1 SO.

Millers last 5 games...
Has faced 166 shots
Allowed 14 goals
.916%

Quicks last 5 games
Has faced 127 shots
Allowed 14 goals
.890%

I dont know how you can make a point that he is the better goalie overall this season, or recently, the sabres may be slumping, but they still get better goaltending, than a thriving kings team. The difference is the offence. Kings score more goals, and are able to win those 3 to 4 goals against games, while the more defense sabres cant muster up that offense. No doubt in my mind that Miller is the better goalie and should start.

Sabrenator · 02-09-2010, 10:43 PM

^What he said lol

baldhedjer · 02-09-2010, 10:56 PM

Let me ask you this, ChEeChOo? Of the three, who do you think is the hottest at the moment? I would argue that, numbers for the overall season notwithstanding, Quick is the hottest of the three at the moment. I would be very tempted to start Quick based on who seems the hottest in net at the moment. 6 of the 9 wins in the Kings recent winning streak were 1 goal games, so I would suggest that Quick can win you games where his goal support isn't always the best.

Cheech · 02-09-2010, 11:16 PM

I have not "watched" any of the goalies above, therefore I can only make a point statistically. And when we talk about "hottest" I like to look at the last 5 games, usually gives you a good idea of how they have been playing.

As you can see, Miller has better stats in the last 5 games as well, he hasnt gotten wins, cause his team cant score goals, but he is putting up great stats, you look for a goalie to have a above .900 save percentage, and Quick hasnt been able to do that. I would be more confident in Miller.

baldhedjer · 02-09-2010, 11:33 PM

The 2/6 Wings game was a come from behind win from a 3 goal deficit, and my recall isn't complete without looking back into it, but I think that the Devil game was a come from behind win as well. I think it shows that Quick is capable of stealing games for you. I've never been a pure stat guy anyway. They are a good measuring tool, but they don't always tell the whole story. Let me ask you this, ChEeChOo? How quickly would you go to the hook on a goalie in this tournament?

Cheech · 02-09-2010, 11:45 PM

In a tournament of such importance, I would be pretty quick on pulling a goalie if he seems to be struggling, you dont want to fall behind too much, and often a goalie coming in can rejuvenate your team. So I'd be pretty quick on yanking someone out of that goal.

Example: World junior championship Final, USA vs Canada, both goalies were struggling, USA pulled theirs, and their backup saved the game for them, and they won gold. Canada kept theirs in and lost.

P.S. What does that have to do with the topic?

baldhedjer · 02-10-2010, 03:42 PM

Just wondering how long you feel you stick with the starter in this type of tournament. I tend to agree with you, you designate a starter, but make the switch quickly if he's struggling. If they start Quick and it looks like he's getting beat up out there, hook him for Miller, and vice versa.

baldhedjer · 02-10-2010, 04:04 PM

A portion of a story on Olympic goaltenders that ran on CANOE--SLAM! Sports:

Quote:

Gloomy goaltending

Lundqvist is not the only big-name Olympic goalie who has been on a slide heading into Vancouver. He has plenty of company in that regard.

* Team Canada's Martin Brodeur of the Devils is just 2-3 the past two weeks, including the loss to Lundqvist's Rangers on Saturday.

* Prior to leading his Vancouver Canucks to a 3-2 shootout win in Boston on Saturday, Canada's Roberto Luongo was pulled after allowing three first-period goals to the Maple Leafs on Jan. 30, then dropped a 3-2 decision to the Habs in his hometown of Montreal on Feb. 2.

* The third Canadian goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins, dropped a pair of games over the weekend. After being yanked in a 5-3 defeat to the Canadiens on Saturday, he was on the losing end of a 5-4 overtime decision to the high-flying Capitals on Sunday.

* Team USA's Ryan Miller, the backbone of the Buffalo Sabres, is just 2-5 in his past seven appearances and is mired in a three-game losing streak.

* Team Finland starter Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames is 3-10 in his past 13 starts.

* Russia's Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks has allowed three or more goals in three of his past four starts.

The hottest Olympic goalie? American Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings, who has won nine consecutive games.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2...88241-qmi.html
This ran before the Monday night loss to the Ducks by the Kings.

baldhedjer · 02-14-2010, 01:26 AM

Quick heads off to the tournament with the most wins in the NHL with 35, fresh off a shutout win over the Avalanche. He's playing better than the other two selected goalies right now, save perchentage numbers notwithstanding. He's seeing the puck better and reacting to it better than he has all season.