WEEK #6 REVIEW

For this week's edition of the weekly review, we've decided to do something a little different and show our respects to the players in the league that never get as much recognition, but must fulfill an important role by being able to step in at any time if their name is called. There has been an overwhelming theme this year of #1 goaltenders falling to both short and long-term injury, and this week, we have all thumbs up for goaltenders who have stepped up their level of play in time of need:

JOEY MacDONALD - NEW YORK ISLANDERS
-Rick Dipietro has been the #1 goaltender for the Islanders for a few years now, and it is evident by the monstrous 15-year contract he is currently working on. Dipietro is currently sidelined by injury, and the organization has turned towards MacDonald, the 28 year old Nova Scotia native to carry the team, and he has posted an 8-7-2 record in his 17 games played this season, with a .913 save percentage. Not bad for a guy who has gone 3-8-3 between the Red Wings, Bruins, and Islanders before this season started.




BRIAN BOUCHER - SAN JOSE SHARKS
-Although Boucher's ice-time is not due to any injury from Nabokov, San Jose has been known to work with a 2-goaltender system for many years, with the exception of last year. Boucher has been called upon 9 times this season, posting a 7-1-1 record with a .928 save percentage and an unbelievable 1.89 GAA. The system must be working for the Sharks, as Nabokov has started the other 12 games, posting a 10-2 record, helping the team to a league-best 17-3-1 record. Keep in mind just how capable of goaltender Boucher is: He holds the league's shutout record of 5-straight shutouts when he played with the Coyotes.




TY CONKLIN - DETROIT RED WINGS
-For the time being, we'll have to forget just how bad Conklin was for the Oilers from 2001-2006. Just remember his rather "important" blunder in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Hurricanes. Since then, Conklin has been one of the league's best backup netminders, splitting time with the Blue Jackets, Sabres, Penguins, and now, with the Red Wings. This season, Conklin has posted a 6-1-0 record in 7 starts, complementing a great goaltending system with the 8-1-3 Chris Osgood.



NIKOLAI KHABIBULIN - CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
-Nikolai who? In an off season that saw former Montréal Canadiens star keeper Christobal Huet off to the Windy city, Huet would be the definite #1 keeper. But not everything goes as planned, injuries occur, and Khabibulin's season has been an indication of a career resurrection, posting a 7-1-4 record for the Hawks. Considering he is a rather "seasoned" backup goaltender, becoming a UFA at the end of the season, will he be with the Hawks next season? Probably not, but for the time being, he's helping a great deal to restoring a winning tradition in Chicago.

HONOURABLE MENTION TO THE BACKUP KEEPERS:

Danny Sabourin - PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Alex Auld - OTTAWA SENATORS

Kevin Weekes/Scott Clemmenson - NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Curtis Sanford - VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Jaroslav Halak - MONTREAL CANADIENS

Brent Johnson - WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Erik Ersberg - LOS ANGELES KINGS




That's all for now,


PP