Michal Neuvirth Loves the Home Cookin'
by J.P. on Oct 12, 2010 3:30 PM EDT
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"He keeps getting better every game. That's a good sign for a young goaltender." - Bruce Boudreau, 10/11/10
Since the start of the 2008-09 season, the Washington Capitals have been an absolutely dominant team at home during the regular season, to the tune of a 61-14-9 record at Verizon Center.
While only ten of those 61 wins belong to current number one netminder Michal Neuvirth, his run in front of the red-rockin' faithful has been nothing short of staggering, compiling a 10-2-0/2.20/.928 line in 14 home appearances. As impressive as those numbers are, limit the time frame to last season and this one and those numbers shoot up to 9-1-0/1.79/.943. Perhaps most importantly, there's a remarkable consistency there - in his last nine starts at home, Neuvirth hasn't once surrendered more than two (or fewer than one) goals.
As astounding as the overall numbers is what Neuvirth (and the team in front of him) has been able to do on the penalty kill. In the Czech netminder's last half-dozen Verizon Center starts, the Caps are a perfect 24-for-24 in killing off opposing power plays, and 33 for their last 34 over a nine-game span.
Yes, the sample size is small, and shorthanded save percentage is "essentially random." But it's hard not to take notice of the numbers; you can bet tomorrow night's visitors, the New York Islanders, will.
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It was brought up on the telecast last night, but, is Neuvirth potentially as athletic as Varlamov? If Neuvirth is always in the right position, he doesn’t need to really need to reach and move like Varlamov.
I have my doubts but it’s an interesting point that was brought up, regardless of how true it is.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
I guess we’re all trusting the scouting reports on that.
by red army line on Oct 12, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
The only thing athletically that Neuvirth seems to have one up on Varlamov is certainly his glove hand. Neuvirth’s has been relatively strong and Varlamov’s has been relatively abused.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Varlamov’s was markedly better once he changed glove styles (at least before his big injury last year). It was night and day at least from watching him play and his confidence making glove saves. We can only hope it carries through to the future.
Up in Montreal he did show off some beautiful saves. I forgot about that.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
Varlamov is one of the most athletically gifted goalies I’ve ever seen. Neuvirth is certainly athletic but anyone in the NHL is. Varly’s crease movement is just sick. The makes last milisecond cross crease one timers look like nothing.
Also, when Neuvy gets caught out of position he isn’t able to recover like Varly is so I don’t think it’s a hidden talent that no one has been able to witness yet.
So yes, those labels are used on them quite often but they are applied correctly.
Varly IS very technical though and that gets overlooked a bit because of how explosive he is.
Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.
by zephyr on Oct 12, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It is hard to forget him stopping Crosby. That was one of the most impressive saves I’ve ever seen and likely ever will.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Ow7Kxaqb4
The call is spectacular
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
by sydtron on Oct 12, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve always been impressed by the positioning and conservation of energy from Neuvie’s style. Similar to that of a Cam Ward that can go back-to-back and not seem to break down much because he’s not extending himself too much throughout the course of the game. Athleticism is great, but not at the cost of injury.
Refs allow play to continue....
Ward is not the best comparison in terms of durability — he was out for (seemingly) months last season due to back problems. Additionally, he is more easily rattled than Neuvy and thus less likely to be able to take consistent advantage of his good form. Ward is talented, but it’s hard to compare him to either Varlamov or Neuvirth, as they are all completely dfferent animals.
(Saying the above, it’s kind of amusing that Varlamov has been mentioned about twice as often as Neuvirth in a post above the latter.)
The last mosquito that bit me had to check into the Betty Ford Clinic.
While Varlamov is the hot-girl you love taking out for a fling on a Saturday night, it’s feeling more and more that Neuvirth is the steady-girl that you know is the best one to marry.
Everything sounds smarter in Tikkanesse....
Very early to make those assumptions.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 12, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
For sure, but I mean, every time I call, Neuvirth seems to be there….it’s all I’m saying…
Everything sounds smarter in Tikkanesse....
By that analogy only Varly has been there to take the call when we needed someone to accompany us in the big dance.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 12, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes maybe Varly is just letting Neuvy do all the hard work of the “meaningless” regular season and then will step in and take over in the playoffs and lead the Caps to ??
Who knows. It’s 3 games in. Time will tell.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 12, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Small sample size proviso and all of that, but Neuvirth was far and away our best penalty-killing goalie of last year, at least in terms of SH SV% (88.9%); he was at 3 percentage points better than Theodore (85.7%), and nearly 9 percentage points better than Varlamov in that category (80.2%).
Hypothesis: a positionally sound goalie will tend to better when down a man than a more athletic netminder with a tendency to over-commit. Buy or sell?
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The numbers seem to support that with Neuvirth being the only outlier there.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
An interesting hypothesis. Any other teams in the league since the lockout with a flaily goalie / steady goalie tandem we can look at? Boston comes to mind, but there might be others.
Fantasy Teams: Baby Got Backstrom (Ladies of Twitter) and All's Fehr in the Crease (Six Beers Too Many)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Possibly Montreal. Halak was was the steady eddy goaltender where Price is the flashy one. I think the Habs made a big mistake trading Halak and going with the inconsistent but more athletic goalie. It may have been wiser to force both of them to compete for playing time.
I think the Habs made a big mistake in trading an emotionally sound goalie, vs one who lets pressure get to him. Price does have a very big ceiling, I just doubt he will ever get there playing in Montreal.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
by Bman21212 on Oct 12, 2010 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’d buy that, but hesitantly. A good penalty-killing goaltender will rely on the forwards in front of him to jam up passing lanes, and will try to take away any shot from the shooter. While an athletic netminder would be able to cross the crease and make saves on one-timers or other plays that force lateral movement, a positionally-sound goalie (who will, presumably, have better hockey sense) will be able to read the play and thus react sooner.
The other key ability for goaltenders in penalty-killing situations, in my opinion, is being able to work around screens and deflections. A more positionally-sound goalie should be in a better position to stop such shots, as he will more likely be covering the parts of the net which are targeted.
I would say it depends on the type of PP they are facing. A PP that wants to bomb from the point and get rebounds will play into a positionally sound goalie because they will always be square so that even when they can’t see the puck they’ll be in position to make the saves. Rebound control will thwart the “crash the net” aspect as well.
Against a PP like the Caps that loves to go backdoor and pass pucks through the box I think a more athletic goalie may have a better chance at following the puck around the zone (when the Caps PP is actually clicking).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
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