If your NCAA Bracket looked anything like mine after the first two rounds of the tourney, you probably aren’t too happy with Minnesota teams. I had the U of M winning it all, beating Mankato in the Championship.
But if this weekend of hockey proved anything, it is the importance of goaltending. Eight of the twelve games played in the tournament were won by teams with four or more goals. In six of those games, the winning team held their opponents to only one goal.
At all levels we see good goalies influence his/her team’s play. It is easy to rally behind a goalie that you can trust. I might be partial since I am from here, but let’s take a look at the Minnesota Wild. Since Devan Dubnyk has joined the team, his record in net has been 26-6-1. He was just named the NHL’s player of the week for the second time this season.
Having the ability to play knowing that you have solid goaltending gives a team the ability to go out, score goals and not have to worry as much about their defensive zone. I guess we will see what happens in Boston for the #FrozenFour and also in the NHL Playoffs.
But, then again, maybe we should just hope for goalies who can pull that off.
Play hard, play fair and have fun
-Taylor