Apr 10, 2018

These are the moments Connor Hellebuyck was preparing for, way back when he was huddled around the TV imitating the movements of Chris Osgood and Olaf Kolzig.During the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hellebuyck found himself in a bit of a quandary.Kolzig, his favourite goalie, had backstopped the Washington Capitals...

Apr 10, 2018

The nebulous interference rule, a point of controversy all year long, is a ticking time bomb that threatens to spoil a team’s Stanley Cup hopes:The NHL playoffs begin on Wednesday, as the remaining 16 teams get set to begin what they hope will be a two-month journey towards the...

Apr 07, 2018

It was Oct.19, 2017, early enough in the Ottawa Senators' season that fans still harboured dreams of Stanley Cup glory. The New Jersey Devils were in town, and the Eastern Conference rivals were putting on a high-scoring show at the Canadian Tire Centre.For Robin Billingham, however, the heart-stopping action wasn't...

Mar 14, 2018

Sorry folks, there is no simple, straightforward, one-stroke-of-the-pen solution to the NHL’s goalie interference problem. As much as people from Mike Babcock to Jeremy Roenick are shrieking “Fix it!” and making noisy headlines, it’s just not that simple.It’s taken the better part of three decades for...

Mar 11, 2018

BUFFALO -- Keeping track of his NHL victory total has come easy for Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury."Simple -- I have 399 of them," he said after a 2-1 shootout victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. "Just one more until 400."Naming the number of practical jokes he's pulled...

Mar 11, 2018

With the NHL lurching from one inexplicable goaltender-interference call to another, the hockey world is eyeing next week's general-managers meetings as the saving grace.The trouble is, the system works against a solution.It is only in rare circumstances that rules suggestions to come out of the annual GMs meetings,...

Mar 08, 2018

TOP 25 GOALIE RANKINGSStandard Yahoo categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goaltenders. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, team goaltender situations, anticipated start volume, projected goal support (or lack thereof), injury history, age, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, potential...

Nov 09, 2017

Injuries, ulcers, loneliness all part of the job"Goalies are always alone. They are probably the loneliest guys in the world."That was how Johnny Gottselig, who played 16 seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1928-45, described those who play the position. According to Gottselig, puck-stoppers feel extra strain and never...

Nov 07, 2017

BROSSARD, Que. — The lower body injury suffered by goaltender Carey Price last week is not related to a knee injury that caused him to miss most of the 2015-16 season, Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien said Tuesday.Price did not practice with the team but is expected to be...

May 16, 2017

An NHL goalie’s job is pretty simple: stop vulcanized rubber disks from crossing the goal line. Do it more than the goalie at the other end of the rink and you’re credited with a win. At THW we offer you our NHL Goalie Rankings for the 2016-17 season...