Coming into the men's hockey tournament in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, it was expected that goaltending would play a major role in every team's chances at having success.
But through the 26 games played during the preliminary, qualification, and quarterfinal rounds, goaltending not only played a major role in what happened, but it also turned out to be the deciding factor.
And even more so than anyone could have expected.
Many of the games were much closer than previously expected, feared snipers were stymied by a net minder with a hot hand, and there was more than one game stolen by a masked man.
In what could be the biggest story in the tournament so far, we have had the privilege of witnessing some of the best, most clutch performances between the pipes in recent memory.
Sure, the players still have to score goals to win, but when you've got play from your goalie like we've seen so far, it might take less lighting of the lamp than originally thought. And that's never a bad thing.
While only four of the six goalies on this list have a chance at winning gold on Sunday afternoon, they each did exactly what was asked of them by doing everything in their power to back-stop their team to glory. The blame is certainly not on their shoulders for the early exit, and they can proudly say they played at the top of their game every night.
Here now are the six best goaltenders we've seen at the Olympic Games so far.
Henrik Lundqvist - Team Sweden
Overshadowed by a shocking early exit for Sweden was the stellar play of their rock-solid net minder, Henrik Lundqvist.
The only goalie in the tournament to record multiple shutouts (two) was most assuredly not the reason his team is going home without even a chance at defending their gold medal from 2006.
He stopped 51 of 55 shots he faced in the three games he played, and won two of them. The only blemish came in the stunning 4-3 loss to the Slovakian Team in the quarterfinals which ended the run for Tres Kroener.
He leaves behind a 1.34 SV% and a .927 GAA, and though he only allowed four goals to his opponents during the entire event, it turned out to be too much for a team that expected so much more.
If you ask Lundqvist, he will undoubtedly tell you that the Olympics was a failure, but the players and fans know that his performance gave them a shot at doing what they showed up to do.
It's just unfortunate the rest of the team couldn't follow his lead.
Roberto Luongo - Team Canada
He was expected to sit on the bench for the majority of the Olympic Games, while fellow countryman and arguably the greatest goalie of all time, Martin Brodeur, carried the load for Team Canada.
But after some poor play by Brodeur in his first two games, the weight of a nation shifted to Luongo who has been entrusted to back-stop Canada the rest of the way—and he sure hasn't disappointed.
Though it can be said two of the three games he appeared in were against far less talented squads in Norway and Germany, his performance against the Russians in a 7-3 was enough to assure Canadian fans that he was the right man for the job.
He stopped 25 of 28 shots against arguably the most talented offensive team in the tournament and looked strong throughout.
He has amassed a .924 SV% and a 1.67 GAA while going 3-0 in his starts, including a shutout in the first game for the team.
It's far from over for the Canadians and their new lead man in net, but if there is anyone who is going to rise to the occasion and win a gold medal on not only his country's home ice but also his as well, it's Luongo.
And if he does, there will be a lot of what sounds like booing coming from the crowd as the National Anthem is sung. But don't be fooled, around these parts, that sound is a good thing—and quite possibly golden.
Miikka Kiprusoff - Team Finland
When he was announced to the Finnish Olympic Team prior to the Games starting, he immediately stated that he would only make the trip if he was the team's No. 1 goalie. Say what you want about the guy and his ego, but he certainly has proven his No. 1 status thus far.
Team Finland came into the Games as somewhat of an underdog, not boasting the same amount of talent as some of the more powerful countries, but as some of those other countries prepare their trips back home, Finland finds themselves with a semifinal date with Team USA Friday afternoon.
And you can thank Kipper for that, though he did have some help from backup Niklas Backstrom.
He allowed only four goals in the three games he started, stopping 71 of 75 shots while collecting a 1.33 GAA and a .946 SV%. His only loss came to the Swedes, but he made up for it in the quarterfinals against a strong Czech Republic team.
He stopped all 31 shots that came his way as Finland went on to win 2-0 and advanced to the next round.
And unlike the majority of net minders in this tournament, Kiprusoff still has a chance to not only improve his numbers but stand on top of the podium with an Olympic Medal around his neck.
Jaroslav Halak - Team Slovakia
The Slovakian Team has some serious talent on their roster, including Jaroslav Halak between the pipes, but very few had them pegged to be one of the final four teams remaining in the Olympics. Heck, if you said they you did you probably had no idea what you were talking about.
But that's why we play the games.
All it takes is a hot goaltender and you've got yourself a recipe for success, and it just so happens that's exactly what Slovakia had.
They played Halak in all five games, and he stopped 120 of 130 shots, which is a 1.97 SV%. His .923 GAA is one of the best in the tournament and he added a shutout to go along with his four wins - including one over both Russia and Sweden.
His performance thus far has been nothing short of spectacular and his team will be relying on him heavily the rest of the way.
It won't only be all of Canada worrying about Halak in net in an upcoming game, because there is a certain Canadian goaltender back on his NHL club who could see his job officially gone if the Slovakian stopper keeps up his brilliant play.
Jonas Hiller - Team Switzerland
To put it bluntly, Switzerland had no chance to win a medal coming into the Games—well, that's what we all thought before the puck dropped anyways. And even though the team has been eliminated from the competition, there is one man who can hold his head high and proudly say he almost single-handedly clawed his team into the medal rounds.
Jonas Hiller played out of his mind. Plain and simple.
He appeared in all five of his team's games and faced 159 shots, stopping 146 of them. He had a .918 SV% and a 2.47 GAA and was the backbone of his team.
He lead them to wins over Norway and Belarus, but his most impressive games were the ones he came up just short in.
The first game of the tournament was against the Americans, and though they were up against a more skilled opponent, Hiller kept them in the game the entire way as they lost a close battle 3-1.
Next up for the Swiss was the Canadians, and it turned out as what could be considered the best game Hiller has ever played. Certainly the best he's ever played in a loss. Canada came on strong right from the start and pumped 47 shots on net—only two got past him in regulation.
Then he took his team into extra shooters in the shootout before Sidney Crosby beat him to win it for the Canucks. The Swiss lost the game, but Hiller sure gave the home team a scare.
He also came up huge in the quarterfinal matchup against the US once again, stopping 42 of 44 shots that the high-flying Americans fired his way. The Swiss were unable to score a goal for themselves, and their tournament was over, but not before Hiller did more than anyone could have expected for his hockey club.
Hiller once again proved his is a big-time goaltender who thrives under pressure and is always capable of stealing a game for whatever team he plays for.
Ryan Miller - Team USA
Yet another surprise, though this one to a lesser extent, with Ryan Miller and Team USA finding themselves advancing to the semifinals.
Miller is widely considered the best goalie in the game right now, and his play in the Olympics has only helped his cause of solidifying that No. 1 spot. He has been simply outstanding.
Through four games he has only allowed five goals, stopping 85 of 90 shots, and propelling his team to a 4-0 record—including a miraculous 42-save performance against the Canadians in a 5-3 win in front of a boisterous enemy crowd.
His 1.25 GAA is the best in the tournament and the .944 SV% doesn't hurt either, especially when you're on the only undefeated team remaining.
His reputation was already skyrocketing before he stepped foot on Olympic ice, but no matter the outcome of these games, Miller is blasting off into territory unknown for an American net minder.
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