NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2012: Power Ranking the Starting Postseason Goalies

It’s a small sample size—some goaltenders have only played two games—but it’s been enough time to have an early look at who’s who when it comes to goaltending in the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Both Pennsylvania-based goaltenders have been lit up.

Fans probably showed up or tuned into those games with the Rodney Dangerfield mentality—they were looking for a fight and were surprised to see a hockey game break out.

Still, aside from Sidney Crosby punkery, hair-pulling and just general bedlam, there have been about 100,000 goals scored in that series (slight exaggeration).

The flashing red lights have not only signified goals scored, but pending doom for Marc-Andre Fleury and Ilya Bryzgalov.

Both goaltenders have been sieves.

Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard was called out by his coach (per The Detroit News) and has had some troubles with the Predators so far. On the other end of the ice, Pekka Rinne—a man that would constitute the third-largest building in some small Canadian provinces—has been lights-out for the upstart Nashville club.

Jaroslav Halak (Blues) and Antti Niemi (Sharks) have tapped into their playoff mojos in that series. They’ve been keeping the rubber out of the net and enjoyed the fireworks as the skaters on their respective teams have blown up at each other.

Halak led the Canadiens on a playoff run two years ago. Niemi won the Cup with Chicago in 2010.

Don’t question how much St. Louis and San Jose want this. The Blues feel that they could be something special for years to come. They’re young and talented. The Sharks are sick of the "choker" label and pundits questioning their heart.

Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, however, was unable to tap back into the playoff magic he had with Colorado in 2009-10.

The biggest surprise, though? Jonathan Quick. He’s got his Kings in position to upset the mighty Canucks in the first round.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

Fleury has become the weak link in this series.

Certainly, fans in Pittsburgh cannot blame Fleury alone for having their potential Stanley Cup contender go down 3-0 to the hated Flyers, but his 6.34 goals-against average and .798 save percentage are putrid.

He’s facing a juggernaut offense and these games are wide open, but Fleury was overwhelmed by the fusillade of rubber he faced in this series.

Brent Johnson, Pittsburgh Penguins

I’m not going to say too much about Johnson, who came in to relieve Fleury in the 8-4 blowout, because it’s a small sample size.

Still, this guy gave up two goals and only made four saves in his appearance.

Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia Flyers

Bryzgalov’s goals-against average is not six-plus, but 3.96 is nothing to be proud of.

There’s a reason why the three worst goaltenders still playing are in this series. It’s tough to slow down both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia’s offenses, and the goal scoring has made this series as thrilling as the physical play has.

To be fair, Flyers fans should not be too tough on Bryzgalov. He’s played well enough to put his team up 3-0 (to be clear, he's not the main factor, but he’s a factor) and should be good enough to nail the coffin shut on the cross-state Penguins.

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

Tell me if you’ve heard this before: Luongo enters the playoffs on the hot seat.

The Canucks management officially pulled the plug on the embattled Luongo after he gave up seven goals in two starts and posted a .891 save percentage.

Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

A journeyman player, Anderson’s stock went up after a strong playoff outing with the Avalanche against the Sharks a couple years ago.

Anderson has not been working his magic for Ottawa this season, having given up six goals in the first two games against the Rangers and sitting on the Mendoza line with a .900 save percentage.

Granted, the Rangers have offensive firepower and the Senators aren’t a great defensive team, so he’s got a tough task ahead of him. However, if the overmatched Ottawa squad is going to upset the Blueshirts, Anderson has to be a wall.

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

Mike Babcock called Howard out, saying he’s got to outplay opponent Pekka Rinne if the Red Wings are going to get out of the first round.

Rinne has outplayed Howard so far.

Howard’s .892 save percentage is poor and he’s lost two of the three games his team has played. Still, the Wings are still in it and would be crazy to blame their goaltender for their early deficit.

Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

As a teammate of Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Co., Crawford’s job should not be too difficult against the offensively anemic Coyotes.

Unfortunately for the Chicago faithful, Crawford has given up six goals in two starts and the Hawks are split in a series with a team that they should beat.

Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

C’mon, Marty.

The guy’s a legend—I get it—but he’s been lit up (2.54/.898) by the Florida Panthers. The Panthers!

I know that they’re a playoff team and won their division and play in a large barn…I get it.

But it’s the Panthers. They. Don’t. Score. Often.

And he’s Marty Brodeur.

Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks

I know I’m going to get uproar from Vancouver for putting Schneider here (I’m actually afraid to enter the city after all I’ve written about the Canucks over the past few years).

Just hear me out.

It’s one game; he played well. But it's one game.

He’s better than Luongo, but that’s not saying much.

Schneider is not good enough to be the difference-maker if this team pulls off a miracle and beats L.A.

Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes

I don’t want to take away from what Smith has done; he’s made some spectacular saves and done all he can to keep an overmatched (at least on paper) Phoenix squad in the series.

Smith has been good (2.57/.937), but it has yet to be seen if he can keep his cool in the Madhouse on Madison.

The Coyotes are defensively focused and should keep shots outside and from bad angles. That said, if they can’t get up early, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Co. could rattle this guy and the Hawks could take control of the series.

Jose Theodore, Florida Panthers

Theodore and that weird, sexy cat thing on his helmet have given one of the NHL’s worst franchises a chance to advance past the first round for the first time since 1996. That year, the team advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Lundqvist is sitting here because of one bad game that, to be fair, was a poor team effort.

The Rangers can afford to have a bad game.

They’re significantly more talented than the Senators and, as long as they don’t get complacent, Lundqvist and Co. shouldn’t endure a scare in the first round.

Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators

Pavel Datsyuk. Henrik Zetterberg. Tomas Holmstrom.

Just hearing these names would make the average goaltender panic.

Rinne, however, has been rock solid (2.35/.928) and has given the Predators a chance to win this series.

Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks

For a guy that couldn’t secure a rebound to save his life in the regular season and was publicly criticized by his coach (per CSN Bay Area's Kevin Kurz), Niemi has played well. 

Perhaps he just picks it up in the postseason. Perhaps he’s just had two good games.

Either way, the Sharks—a team that hobbled into the playoffs—put themselves in a good position to take control of the series after beating St. Louis in overtime in Game 1.

Jaroslav Halak, St. Louis Blues

Another goaltender known for his postseason prowess, Halak led the Cinderella Canadiens through a playoff run before being dealt to the Blues two years ago.

He’s been outstanding so far, posting a 1.73 goals-against average and .935 save percentage.

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

He’s got a lot of defensive help, but Quick has been outstanding for the Kings—a team in position to upset the mighty Canucks.

His 1.33 goals-against average and .965 save percentage speak volumes for L.A.’s goaltender.

Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

"The Guy Who Didn’t Go to the White House" is getting the job done for the defending champs.

His sub-one goals-against average (0.83) and .964 save percentage are what this team expects of a seasoned goaltender.

Oh yeah, and he’s facing Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Co. in this series.

That’s no easy task.

Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals

This is how I imagined the conversation between Holtby and Washington management went.

Capitals: "Umm, everyone’s injured. You’ve got to face the defending champion Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs."

Holtby: "Okay" (Holtby thinks to himself: "Are you serious?")

He may wear No. 70, but the numbers that count have been fantastic. He’s matched Thomas’ 0.83 goals-against average and topped his save percentage with .973.