Question regarding goaltending

davidb · Guru

Question regarding goaltending

Nil d · Guru

davidb wrote:

When I first started to watch hockey, Dryden, Cheevers, Vilimure, Vachon ,Giacamon and the list goes on and on. (not sure how many will remember all of the goalies) When the shooter was getting ready to release the puck, you never saw the goalie go down like they have the past 10 years or so. How many times does the goalie go down and the puck go over his shoulder or by his shoulder, case in point torontos second goal. Some times it just get me so teed off.

I remember those guys. I think the big change is the butterfly stance. It makes it much easier to flop down, leadiing to goals above the shoulder as well as the five-hole. The butterfly was invented to help stop shots to the two low corners, and the cost was the other areas (top corners, five-hole). Goalies pre-70's were pretty much all stand-up style. I think Tony Esposito was one of the first butterflyers.

barry33 · Guru

I agree with you. This whole butterfly method was developed in Quebec believe it or not. In fact, Patrick Roy was one of the very first buttefly goalies. I am a goalie. Im university my coach tried to turn me into a flopper but I did not. And now in oldtimers hockey I still stand up. But now it is because I am so fat and out of shape that if I go down I can't get back up without assistance.

The problem with the butterfly is that it really exploits the short goalies. I am not sur ehow tall THeo is (5'10?) but when he goes down it really leaves Mama's top shelves open. Conversely, a guy like Garon can still cover alot upstairs when he is on his knees.

davidb · Guru

I miss Garon, I think it was a mistake letting him go. I watched him the other night I really liked him