USA Hockey 2014: Profiling All 6 Potential Starting Goaltenders in Sochi Games

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games are less than 70 days away (thanks, internet), and the host country Russia certainly cannot wait to get the games under way.

Team USA has their sights set on bringing home the gold medal from Sochi, Russia; however, they have yet to name a favorite as America's starting goaltender for the games. 

Here is a full profile of each of the six American goaltenders with a fighting chance to be crowned as the starting goalie for the 2014 Winter Olympics...enjoy. 

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

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Current Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard is likely to make the team as one of the three goalies USA will bring to Sochi.

Here's a breakdown of Howard's last 10 NHL games:

Date	Opponent	TOI	GA	SA	SV	SV %
11/29	Islanders	60:00	0	29	29	1.00
11/23	Senators	59:58	4	29	25	.862
11/19	Predators	58:42	2	25	23	.920
11/15	Capitals	65:00	3	33	30	.909
11/12	Jets	64:50	2	21	19	.905
11/9	Lightning	63:46	3	34	31	.912
11/7	Stars	64:41	4	28	24	.857
11/4	Jets	58:12	4	47	43	.915
11/1	Flames	59:56	3	25	22	.880
10/30	Canucks	60:00	1	20	19	.950
Season Totals		1118:58	48	551	503	.913

Howard has led the Wings to 35 points this season—just three back from the Eastern Conference front-running Penguins with 38. Howard has played eight seasons in Detroit, starting nearly 250 games and recording 20 playoff wins in the process.

Howard took home a gold medal with the U-18 IIHF American team back in 2002 and made his mark when he got to the NHL with a runner-up finish for Rookie of the Year in 2010. 

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

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Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick has been sidelined with an injury since last suiting up in mid-November, and during his time away from the net, Kings backup goaltender Ben Scrivens has emerged as a reliable goaltender, having led the league in goals against average and save percentage over the last three weeks. 

Here's a look at Quick's last 10 NHL games:

Date	Opponent	TOI	GA	SA	SV	SV %
11/12	Sabres	63:40	2	17	15	.882
11/9	Canucks	60:00	1	26	25	.962
11/7	Sabres	59:56	0	19	19	1.00
11/2	Predators	58:20	4	17	13	.765
10/30	Sharks	62:32	3	20	17	.850
10/27	Oilers	64:51	1	18	17	.944
10/24	Coyotes	60:00	4	28	24	.857
10/21	Flames	59:41	3	25	22	.880
10/19	Stars	60:00	2	29	27	.931
10/17	Predators	65:00	1	35	34	.971
Season Totals		945:24	37	388	351	.905

Quick's numbers haven't been this low since the 2009-10 season, however his Stanley Cup run in 2011 was purely remarkable and arguably one of the best playoff performances of all-time—meaning Quick is not far from being named USA's starting goaltender.  

Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning

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Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop is currently third in the league in wins (14), which is certainly an accomplishment for a team that finished third to last in the previous season despite having two of the league's top scorers in Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos. 

Bishop has shown incredible promise during his short time as an NHL goaltender, having played just 65 games throughout six NHL seasons. 

Here's a look at Bishop's last 10 NHL games:

Date	Opponent	TOI	GA	SA	SV	SV %
11/29	Penguins	59:34	2	28	26	.929
11/25	Rangers	60:00	0	37	37	1.00
11/22	Ducks	64:54	1	42	41	.976
11/19	Kings	59:38	5	31	26	.839
11/16	Coyotes	21:45	3	14	11	.786
11/14	Ducks	59:35	1	25	24	.960
11/12	Canadiens	65:00	1	29	28	.966
11/9	Red Wings	63:44	2	27	25	.926
11/7	Oilers	60:00	2	40	38	.950
11/2	Blues	59:28	2	30	28	.933
Season Totals		1155:35	40	578	538	.931

The 6'7'' netminder's recent hot streak is certainly enough to give him a fair shot of making the 2014 USA National team, especially with Jonathan Quick currently being sidelined with an injury. 

Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

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Sabres netminder Ryan Miller established himself as USA's starter three months before the Vancouver games, however his silver medal in 2010 has not been enough to retain the starting position four years later.    

Here's a look at Miller's last 10 NHL games:

Date	Opponent	TOI	GA	SA	SV	SV %
11/29	Maple Leafs	60:34	2	24	22	.917
11/27	Canadiens	58:24	3	31	28	.903
11/24	Red Wings	58:40	2	33	31	.939
11/21	Flyers	58:50	3	45	42	.933
11/19	Blues	60:00	4	31	37	.871
11/15	Maple Leafs	60:00	1	33	32	.970
11/12	Kings	65:00	2	45	43	.956
11/8	Ducks	40:00	6	34	28	.824
11/5	Sharks	65:00	4	51	47	.922
10/31	Rangers	57:45	2	46	44	.957
Season Totals		1118:58	48	551	503	.913

Miller won the Vezina Trophy along with helping carry the 2010 USA hockey team to an overtime loss in the gold medal game of 2010. He has not been as reliable as he was in 2010; however, his experience with team USA is extremely beneficial, and it would be surprising to see Miller left off the 2014 team. 

Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

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Devils goalie Cory Schneider is currently third in the league in goals against average (1.72) despite only starting 12 of the Devils' 27 games. Schneider splits time in New Jersey with one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, Martin Brodeur.  

Here's a look at Schneider's last 10 NHL games:

Date	Opponent	TOI	GA	SA	SV	SV %
11/30	Sabres	63:58	0	15	15	1.00
11/29	Hurricanes	59:05	2	18	16	.889
11/21	Kings	62:30	1	35	34	.971
11/15	Kings	58:36	1	20	19	.950
11/8	Maple Leafs	65:00	1	28	27	.964
11/3	Wild	58:38	3	19	16	.842
10/24	Canucks	64:59	2	21	19	.905
10/22	Blue Jackets	57:55	3	23	20	.870
10/19	Rangers	60:00	0	22	22	1.00
10/13	Jets	58:44	2	34	32	.941
Season Totals		731:43	21	288	267	.927

Schneider, no stranger to the backup role after his five seasons in Vancouver, will be named the Devils' starting goaltender when Brodeur retires. Schneider was signed in Vancouver to back up one of the best goalies in recent history, Roberto Luongo, and flourished in his role so well that the Canucks were forced to trade him while his market stock was so high. 

Tim Thomas, Florida Panthers

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Team USA's most experienced goaltender is, without question, Tim Thomas. 

Thomas has two Vezina trophies as the league's top goaltender (2009, 2011), as well as his three Game 7 victories during the Bruins incredible Stanley Cup run in 2011. 

Thomas is now a Florida Panther, and here's a look at his last 10 NHL games:

Date	Opponent	TOI	GA	SA	SV	SV %
11/30	Penguins	39:58	4	13	9	.692
11/27	Rangers	59:02	4	21	17	.810
11/25	Flyers	60:00	1	39	38	.974
11/22	Flames	64:55	3	24	21	.875
11/21	Oilers	59:21	3	34	31	.912
11/19	Canucks	64:58	2	29	27	.931
11/16	Avalanche	60:00	1	33	32	.970
11/15	Wild	58:37	3	20	17	.850
11/12	Ducks	59:57	2	34	32	.941
11/10	Rangers	58:37	4	29	25	.862
Season Totals		933:49	45	466	421	.903

Thomas' numbers in 2013 have been remarkable for playing on such a young and inexperienced Panthers team.

Team USA general manager David Poile will have to decide whether or not to extend an invitation to the 39-year-old, or if he wants to use that roster spot as a resume-builder for a younger goalie.