Quote:
Originally Posted by AbbyAk
Osgood: can certainly win the cup with Detroit--he may not be the best goalie out there-but has won them before--knows what it takes--and does not have to carry the team.
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My point exactly. The original quote was Hockey is ALL about goaltending. In fact a goalie contributes a maximum of 20% to a team winning. Brighter people than me have figured that out.
As for 'fluke' events. The success of the 'better' teams year over year refute this fact. Yes, flukey things happen, but they rarely alter the course of a game, let a alone a seven game series.
You could certainly argue that a football team is more susceptible to 'fluke' events than a hockey team. Losing a single regular season game in football can end a season, that is almost never true in hockey. Same with playoffs. Football is one and out. Tony Roma anyone?
No on refers to a 'series stealing skill player', because the entire premise is that the best team wins, ergo better skill players deserve to win, there is no theft involved. In contrast, a goalie that shuts down the oppositions offence has committed theft, the 'better' team loses.
There are still a dozen or so 'game breaking' players in the league. And about the same number of great goalies.