Today is a sad day at NHL Hot Stove as we close up shop.

I would like to thank every one who has ever contributed, commented and read our site. It was a fantastic ride which unfortunately we can no longer keep up.

Myself and David Strehle are taking on bigger roles at RLDHockey.net while Dustin Leed and The Hockey Guys has been generous enough to give a home to our other excellent contributors. Please be kind enough to give both sites a read.

By Alexander Monaghan
President

Yesterday, we let you in on our contest to play a ‘One Day FREE Fantasy Contest‘ to win $100 in cash prizes from Draft Steet. Well, I signed up, How about you?

Here’s my lineup, I challenge you to beat this roster:

LW: Zach Parise — $11,018
LW: Daniel Sedin — $14,799

RW: Bryan Little — $5,941
RW: Martin St. Louis — $13,081

C: Mark Letestu — $5,990
C: Valtteri Filppula — $6,118

D: Niklas Kronwall — $6,547
D: P.K. Subban — $7,817

G: Jonathan Quick — $20,665
G: Brian Gionta — $7,976

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If you haven’t heard, there is a new trend in the world of fantasy sports. Fantasy enthusiasts all over the country are now participating in daily fantasy leagues for cash on DraftStreet.com. We’ve partnered up with Draftstreet to do a FREE one-day fantasy league with $100 in prizes exclusively for NHL Hot Stove readers.

This is a salary cap league where everyone tries to assemble the best team out of the available players. You will have a $100,000 budget to build a team of 2 LW’s, 2 RW’s, 2 Center’s, 2 Defensive players, 1 Goalie, and a FLEX. Each NHL player has been allocated a price based on their expected fantasy performance. For example, star LW Alex Ovechkin costs $14,331 where as RW Jarome Iginla costs $12,256.

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March 21, 1991 will always be remebered for Ron Tugnutts‘ remarkable achievment. It was on that night that the young Quebec Nordiques goaltender battled the Boston Bruins to a 3-3 tie. Nothing spectacular about the score, nor the fact they were playing one of the best teams in the league, but the amazing part of it was that final shot tally. Tugnutt faced an eye popping 73 shots and turned aside 70 of them. It would be the second most shots ever faced in NHL history, It would also thrust Tugnutt into the spotlight and create a name for himself and set him on his way to an amazing NHL journey.

Ron Fredrick Tugnutt was born October 22 1967 in Scarborough Ontario. Tugnutt rose to prominence with the OHLs Peterborough Petes where he played for three seasons. Tugnutt was not overly big but was quite agile and it caught the eyes of many NHL scouts. In 1986 Tugnutt was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 4th round (87th overall). The Nordiques had some very lean years during the 80s and early nineties and it was tough to establish themsleves during those times. Often they were the doormats of the NHL and were consistently being beaten by the NHLs elite.
Because of this the Nordiques set out to develop some younger players in hopes that they would round out into a decent team by showing confidence in some of its homegrown products. Tugnutt was one such case. Though used primarily as a backup for his first three seasons and bouncing around between the Nordiques and their minor league affiliates, Tugnutt still proved he was a good goaltender.

The wait would pay off as in 1990-91 Tugnutt would play in 56 games and for all intents and purposes was being considered as their number one goalie that year. It was in March of that season that Tugnutt would have his unbelieveable night. The Bruins were one of the leagues best clubs and a chance to play Quebec was considered just a formality. It turned out to be a game that would be remembered for years to come.

At the conclusion of the contest so impressed were the Bruins that many of them went over to congratulate Tugnutt. Team captain Ray Bourque escorted Tugnutt to centre ice and had him take a bow. Making this more amazing was that the game was in Boston!

As so often happens in these situations Tugnut had created such a legendary moment that he would forever be expected to duplicate it. Tugnutt has raised the expectations now of Quebec fans, and sadly those expectations would not be met to that degree. After an inconsistent 1991-92 season and the team failing miserably plus the emergence of goaltender Stephane Fiset as a capable option the Nordiques decided to part ways with Tugnutt shipping him to the Edmonton Oilers for Martin Rucinsky. Tugnutt would play backup to Bill Ranford that season and establish himself as a good goalie but would never be able to go beyond that mold.

In 1993 the NHL welcomed some new teams into the mix by allowing expansion franchises into Miami and Anaheim. The rest of the league were instructed to leave players available to be selected by the new clubs and Edmonton decided to leave Tugnutt exposed and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks quickly snapped him up.

The problem ws Anaheim had also selected another young goalie from St. Louis named Guy Hebert and they quickly decided that he was their goalie of the future, once again leaving Tugnutt out in the cold. He would play in only 28 games for the Mighty Ducks before being moved to Montreal in exchange for Stephan Lebeau. Tugnutts numbers in Anaheim were impressive in his brief stint posting a .908 save percentage. Upon arriving in Montreal it dipped to .860.

Tugnutt’s time in Montreal was not memorable. He was a backup to arguably the greatest goaltender to ever play the game and it did not leave a lot of games for him. During the 1994 playoff Patrick Roy had to have an emergency apentectomy and caused him to miss a game against the Boston Bruins. Tugnutt was named starter for that game, and of course all the memories of his career defining game against the same Bruins were re-hashed. Sadly on this night it would be another career defining game, but for the wrong reasons. Tugnutt would surrender four first period goals and the Candiens would lose the game 6-3. His time in Montreal after that was short.

Tugnutt’s confidence was completely shattered and he seriously pondered retirement after his disasterous stint in Montreal, He however decided to give it one more go and signed a contract with the Washington Capitals. He spent the entire season in Washingtons farm club the Portland Pirates but seemed to regain his form while there. He was playing more relaxed, more confident and more like the way he had early on in his career. His play was getting notice and the following year he would sign with the Ottawa Senators. It would be the second chance that he so needed.

1998-99 would be the best season of his career and even one of the best of any goaltender in the NHLs modern era. He posted a GAA of 1.79 and a save percentage of .925 and even played in the 1999 All Star game that year. It was the resurgence that Tugnutt had been waiting for as he once again established himself as an NHL goalie. Alas, once again he had created for himself high expectations and unable to duplicate it the following year the perpetually rebuilding Senators shipped Tugnutt to the Pittburgh Penguins for Tom Barasso. Tugnutt Immediately became the starter in Pittsburgh and helped them go deep in the playoff that year.

In a moment of deja vu Tugnutt would be the goaltender of record in the May 4, 2000 playoff that saw him turn aside 70 shots through five overtimes before Flyers Keith Primeau would pot the winner. It was the longest NHL game played in the modern era and Tugnutt though on the losing end was commended for his stellar play and for once again facing a myriad of shots.
Tugnutt would become a sought after free agent that summer and the Columbus Blue Jackets would win his services signing him to a multi-year deal. While in Columbus he would post 22 wins, the most ever for an expansion team and his save percentage was once again among the league elite. Once again he could not duplicate his season the second year and battled his share of injuries. He was dealt to the Dallas Stars, his final stop on his whirlwind tour of the NHL.

Tugnutt would experience one of the worst years of his career in Dallas and was soon demoted to their AHL affiliate the Utah Grizzlies. He wouldm suffer a groin injury almost immediately and struggled to regain his form. However after Dallas starting goalie Marty Turco went down with an injury Tugnutt was recalled and played in a number of games for the Stars, even recording a shutout, the last of his career.

Tugnutt has seen the writing on the wall and retired after that season. Shortly thereafter Tugnutt signed on with the CBC and joined Hockey Night in Canada as a colour commentator. It was a brief stint. He has also been a goalie coach in Junior with the Oshawa Generals and currently with his old alma matter the Peterborough Petes.

Tugnutt had all th makings of a great NHL career and in a sense he did have one, it just went relatively unnoticed by most. He was able to record the best single season GAA in modern NHL hisory. He twice made more than 70 saves ina game. he played for 2 expansion franchises and would post amazing numbers in single season, his downfall was that often he would fail to replicate those seasons a second straight time.

Ron Tugnutt rose to the top and sunk to the bottom. He made the most of his second chances and placed himself in the record book several times. He proved the the NHL that a small goaltender did have a legitimate shot at forging a great career. And if you ask Tugnutt himself hed say he did just that. Whether or not anyone realizes it is another story.

On the eve of the birthday of a late, great Flyers legend, the Philadelphia Flyers continued their history making run by advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

For years, there has been talk about “ghosts” in Philadelphia.  The ghost of one man has yet to be set free.  Today he would of continued the celebration with his peers from a glorious event which took place just twelve hours ago.  Oh yea, and his own birthday celebration.

This is the story of Pelle Lindbergh.

Per-Eric Göran Lindbergh, better known to his fans as Pelle, was born on May 24th, 1959  in Stockholm, Sweden.  Today would have been his 51st birthday, but a tragic and preventable accident claimed his life on November 10th, 1985.  Before we continue with this article here are a couple disclaimers. Anyone that’s read my stuff knows it comes from a fan perspective, so if you’re looking for a stat heavy story, this will not take that approach. I will sprinkle in the odd stat, but will not rely on them to tell the story.

Growing up just outside of Toronto, Ontario for pretty much my entire life except for a two year span spent in Foymount just outside of Renfrew, the Toronto Maple Leafs have and always will be my favourite team, no surprise there.  Also, being a goalie since the age of 9, goaltenders are who I tend to follow;  no surprise there.

The fact that Pelle Lindbergh is the first goalie I remember from my childhood is surprising.  Just take a look at my MBTM: CuJo article to see the LONG history of Love/Hate relationships I’ve had with Leaf goalies in my time, to see that I am very much a diehard Leafs goalie lover.

We’re not really sure why we choose favourites as a child.  It’s usually something odd that makes it happen.  For example, Wendel Clark is my favourite Maple Leafs player ever (I know, I said I love goalies and my favourite player is a left winger).  This is because the first game I remember watching with my dad, not the first game I watched, Clark scored with his patented wrist shot from just above the left face-off circle.  Instant favorite.  Kelly Gruber, 3rd basemen for the Toronto Blue Jays, also wore #17.  Instant favorite.  Make sense?  Didn’t think so, but to my young mind, it did.

Just as I was starting to learn about the game in the early 80’s, the Leafs goaltending was atrocious.  Sorry Leafs fans, but Mike Palmateer couldn’t hold Lindbergh’s jockstrap on his BEST day.  Having Palmateer as my favorite goalie just wasn’t going to cut it.  Then I heard about this kid in Philly.  Fresh off a Vezina Trophy win and Prince of Wales Conference Championship, he became an instant favorite.  The tragic way he died just a few months later made sure he would always be imprinted on my mind, as well as within the hearts and on the minds of Flyers faithful worldwide.

Lindbergh grew up loving hockey and the Philadelphia Flyers.  On a trip to Toronto for a hockey tournament, he purchased a Flyers jersey with long time great Flyers goaltender Bernie Parent on the back.  He even told reporters during the 1978-1979 WJC that he “was going to play for the Philadelphia Flyers.”

August 9th, 1979 his dream was becoming a reality.  At the NHL Entry Draft held that year in Montreal, Quebec the Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the 3rd round.  After a few up and down seasons between Philadelphia (where he was named to the All-Rookie Team and All-Star Game in his rookie season) and their AHL Farm Team, the Maine Mariners (where he won awards for Rookie of the Year, League MVP and Best Goaltender) sandwiched around a couple of International appearances for Sweden (Bronze at the 1980 Olympics and 1981 Canada Cup) he finally stuck with Flyers in 1984-85.

Lindbergh became a 40 game winner and along the way became the first European to win the Vezina Trophy.  He was also named to the All-Star Game for the 2nd time in his short career and led his team to a Prince of Wales Conference Championship before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The future seemed bright in Philadelphia.  Fresh off a 53 win season and a Finals appearance, the Flyers were set to take the next step and finish what they started the previous year.  I don’t think anyone could have seen this fairytale turn into a nightmare.

However, tragedy struck the league, the organization, the city, and the hearts of the orange-and-black supporters around the entire world.

On November 10th, 1985 in the early hours of the morning, after spending all night celebrating a 10-game win streak with teammates, Lindbergh made a mistake that cost him his life.  I’ll spare the details, it’s stupid really, and shouldn’t have happened.

Even with his passing, the great fans of the NHL still voted him into the 1985-1986 All-Star Game for a 3rd time.  I guess you could say that in a sense, Lindbergh’s untimely death kick started the Flyers run of bad goaltending.  Sure you can make arguments that Ron Hextall was good, heck he was the third Flyers goalie to win the Vezina Trophy in his rookie year along with Parent and Lindbergh.  But after that, it’s been a glaring weakness.  Several good Flyers teams have been let down by poor goaltending.

Outside of the brilliance of Robert Esche pre-lockout, and the Eastern Conference finals run led by Martin Biron, the only other time the Flyers were dominant was in 1997, however, that year was not because of goaltending. The team was simply a powerhouse that were upset by the Detroit Red Wings in a short Cup finals series.

This year, that seems to have possibly changed.  Yesterday, on what would have been his 51st birthday, the Flyers won the Eastern Conference, led by the incredible goaltending of Michael Leighton.  Posting shutouts in games 1, 2 and 4, Leighton has stymied the Montreal Canadiens and seems to have, for the moment anyways, settled the goaltending situation in Philadelphia.

Alright, maybe I did throw in a little more than the odd stat, but how could I not?

There are several masks that I would love to have in my collection.  As stated in MBTM: CuJo my ball hockey mask is painted to match Allan Bester’s.  Felix Potvin, my favourite goalie, is another mask I would like to add.  Patrick Roy’s Montreal mask is on that list as well.

Pelle Lindbergh’s would make it complete.

It’s hard to determine the impact a hockey player is going to have on you.  I was lucky enough to have my sister buy me Lindbergh’s Rookie Card many years ago when I was just a kid starting my Hockey Card collection.  Luckily my mom never threw out my hockey cards.  They’re still sitting in an old red hockey bag in my basement.  That bag weighs a ton and I’ve kept it through four moves to four different homes, and each time it seems to get heavier.

I just may go downstairs today and try to relive some of my youthful love of hockey.

Not sure how many people remember that yesterday was Pelle’s birthday.  I do, and now, after reading this, so do you.  Happy (belated) Birthday Pelle, hope you finally got a chance to win a few Cups up in Heaven.

On a personal note from Jose: “Hey Pelle, by the way, if you see my Dad, say hi and tell him I love him.  Wish him a Happy Birthday for me as well as May 30th would have been his 71st Birthday.”

Happy Birthday to your father Jose, and to you Mr. Lindbergh. May your spirit live within the body of current Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton as the Philadelphia Flyers are set to play for the greatest prize of all, the Stanley Cup.

Jose Simoes
NHLHS Restoring the Rosters Correspondent
jsimoes@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @RTRHockey

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

The Philadelphia Flyers are your Eastern Conference Champions for the 2009-10 NHL season. That is correct.  A team that once held the 14th seed in the Conference on lock, have defied the odds, skated through adversity and are on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Thank you Ray Emery? No. Thank you Brian Boucher? Somewhat.  Thank you waiver wire? YES!

Wait, waiver wire?

On December 15th, 2009, the Philadelphia Flyers were in a bad place.  They had lost starting goaltender Ray Emery and backup netminder Brian Boucher to injuries and neither the team nor youngster Johan Backlund were confident enough to move forward together.

They sat in fourteenth place in the Eastern Conference and for a team that was predicted to appear in the Stanley Cup Finals by many, if not most, of the experts, things were looking bleak.

Enter a claim from the waiver wire.  That claim was for a journeyman netminder who now has his name as a part of history and has gained an opportunity to play for the greatest prize in all of sports, the Stanley Cup.

Michael Leighton was born on May 19, 1981 in Petorlia, Ontario, Canada. Currently, he is providing Philadelphia with a game that no netminder since the days of Robert Esche have been able to give.

Being part of seven different NHL organizations, he is known as a journeyman. Traded and waived throughout most of his career, his 16-5-2 regular season record helped Philadelphia climb out of the basement in the East and it came as a pleasant surprise.

Who?

Yes, the same Michael Leighton that has played a grand total of 103 NHL games since being drafted during the sixth round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

His transaction history report is quite long:
On 12/15/2009: Claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers from the Carolina Hurricanes.
On 06/23/2007: Montreal Canadiens traded Michael Leighton to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 7th round selection in 2007.
On 02/27/2007: Montreal Canadiens claimed Michael Leighton off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers.
On 01/11/2007: Philadelphia Flyers claimed Michael Leighton off waivers from the Nashville Predators.
On 11/27/2006: Claimed by the Nashville Predators off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks.
On 07/13/2006: Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Anaheim Ducks.
On 04/10/2005: Chicago Blackhawks traded Michael Leighton to the Buffalo Sabres for Milan Bartovic.
On 06/26/1999: Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 6th round (165th overall) in 1999.

Do you think the Blackhawks will regret letting Leighton escape from their system? Time will tell.

Funny, Leighton is a man that the Flyers and owner Ed Snider pay only $11,000.00 USD. The man who currently has helped the Flyers close out the Eastern Conference Finals four games to one, makes eleven-thousand dollars as a waiver claim. Yes, you are reading that correctly.

The waiver wire claim was a blessing in disguise for Philadelphia. Right now, it is the best 11k that team owner Ed Snider has ever spent.

To think that this is Leighton’s first time appearing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is mind boggling. The man who turned 29 recently, posted a glorious victory in his first playoff start against the Boston Bruins, a 30-save performance in a gut wrenching 2-1 victory for Philadelphia in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series (after stepping in for the injured Brian Boucher during Game 5 and combining for the shutout).

Two nights later, after a rocky opening to the first period, Peter Laviolette called the “timeout” that would continue to help turn this Flyers season around. Telling Leighton during the timeout to simply “shut the door, we will get a goal and chip away at this lead, and with that we can win this game”, were words that will run through the hearts of the Philadelphia faithful for many, many years.

And just that the Flyers did, completing one of the most historic comebacks in all of professional sports history. Only three times prior has any one team in any major sport come back from being in an 0-3 hole. Welcome to history, Philadelphia.

And welcome to being part of history, Michael Leighton.

But who is this Michael Leighton you ask?

During these playoffs Leighton, who faced one of the most historic franchises in this fine sport, is the first goalie to post back-to-back shutouts against Montreal since Buffalo’s Bob Sauve did it in 1983.

He is also the first goaltender since J-S Giguere did it for Anaheim during the 2003 Western Conference Finals against Minnesota. ‘Giggy’ got on with it posting three straight shut outs that year.

Giguere went on to win the Conn Smythe trophy that year, even though the (Mighty) Ducks fell to New Jersey in seven.

Leighton is also the first Flyers goaltender to post back to back shutouts in the playoffs since, yes you guessed it, Bernie Parent did so in 1975.

You know what else happened in 1975? The Philadelphia Flyers went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

He had a shut out streak that ran for 172 minutes and 55 seconds during this current playoff run the Flyers are on.

The only reason the Habs are not mentioned as a team who regret moving Leighton is due to the fact that the finger can not be pointed in the direction of Jaroslav Halak.

He is a man who stands by the quotes that rests within the Flyers locker room which reads: “you play for the crest on the front of your sweater, not the name on the back”.

In Game 1, he did not have a lot of work facing only 28 shots, though most were routine saves or visible shots.

The Flyers defense has truly stepped up in front of Leighton, helping the first-time playoff performer in earning his victories.

As of this writing, #49 has stopped 133 or 140 rubber discs shot in his direction during the Eastern Conference Finals alone, with a few top-notch game-savers in the mix.

Throughout these playoffs, he’s faced a total of 210 shots and has stopped 199.  Again, all this from a waiver wire claim.

Thirty-five years ago, only the lord saved more than Bernie Parent.

This year, only the Lord saves more than Michael Leighton.

So much for the waiver wire, eh?

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

If the regular season or the 2010 Winter Olympic games were not enough proof for you, then I truly hope you have been tuning in to these 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

You are witnessing the evolution of a prime time netminder.

After a rough opening to each series heading into these Eastern Conference Finals for the Montreal Canadiens, one man has been there to bail his club out on a constant basis.

Jaroslav Halak was born on May 13, 1985 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Halak in the 9th round, 271st overall during the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was drafted in similar fashion to San Jose Sharks netminder Evgeni Nabokov, who was also a ninth round selection.  Like Nabokov, Halak has made the most of his time as an NHL goaltender.

Currently he is the catalyst to the Habs fantastic, Cinderella story playoff run as they are trailing the Philadelphia Flyers two games to one in their best of seven Eastern Conference Finals series.

For Halak, the dream began at the age of 17 where he played for Bratislava of the Slovakian junior league. The very next season he made the jump to the Slovak Extraliga where he appeared in 12 games for HC Slovan Bratislava. He put up amazing numbers in his 12 games posting a 1.66 goals against average and a .942 save percentage.

It was time for Halak to make the jump to North America.

In 2004-05 Halak was part o the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL where he appeared in 47 games for the junior team. He posted a record of 24-17-4 with a 2.78 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.  Numbers that would reflect the start of a promising future for number 41.

Adapting to the North American style and ice surfaces, which are quite different when compared to European rinks and league style, did not take long for Halak.

From the QMJHL to the ECHL, Montreal was allowing Halak the proper time to develop as a player. His numbers improved from his QMJHL season, and before he knew it, Halak was part of the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens AHL affiliate.

The 2006-07 season with Hamilton would see Halak’s numbers improve even more. He appeared in 28 games for the Bulldogs with a record of 16-11.  However, Halak posted a spectacular 2.00 goals against average and an outstanding .932 save percentage.

On February 15, 2007, after an injury to goaltender Cristobal Huet, Halak was called up to the main roster.

Halak appeared in his first NHL game on February 18, 2007. He stopped 31 shots in a 3–2 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Prior to his call up that year, he had the lowest goals against average in the AHL with Hamilton.

On March 20, 2007, Halak had another thrilling thirty save performance helping the Montreal Canadiens defeat the Boston Bruins 1–0. The Slovakian netminer earned his first career NHL shutout and just a few weeks later, on April 2nd, 2007, he earned his second shutout of the season and in his career, also against the Bruins.

As the 2006-07 season came to an end, it was the great play of Halak that helped Montreal fight for a playoff spot with Huet out of commission.

Halak would also play for Slovakia during the the 2007 Men’s World Ice Hockey Championships.

In 2007-08, Halak had been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs for the majority of the season. That year, ex-GM Bob Gainey felt the time had come for Carey Price to shine in Montreal. Huet would be traded for a 2nd round pick during that years trade deadline forcing the team to once again call up Halak.  This time, it was permanent.

Halak took over full-time as the Canadiens backup, but it wasn’t long until Montreal saw just how important Halak would be for the organization. He started his first playoff game on April 30, 2008 against the Philadelphia Flyers (a 4–2 loss) after sub-par performances from Price, who once again took over the following game.

In February 2010, at Vancouver during the Winter Olympics,  Halak started as goaltender for the Slovak national team. He stopped 36 of 37 shots in a preliminary round game victory against a strong Russian team. Halak and his Slovak teammates finished 4th overall in the Olympics after losing against team Finalnd. Halak started all the games for his country during the Winter Games.

Upon finishing up at the Winter Games, the Canadiens reached out the VP of Player Development Greg Kates to designate Halak the starting goaltender for the Canadiens.

Thanks to his outstanding lay this year with the organization, Halak was named the Montreal Canadiens’ Molson Cup Player of the Year for the 2009-10 season. In the sixth game of the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals, Halak stopped 53 shots to set a club and league record for a regular-time playoff game, leading the Canadiens to a 4-1 victory. Montreal made a bit of history as they overcame a 3-1 deficit to come back and defeat this years Presidents trophy winners in seven games.

In the semi-finals, the Canadiens eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins from the playoffs, also in seven games. The Canadiens won the decisive game 5-2, and Halak was chosen as that games first star.

Now, a likely candidate for the Conn Smythe trophy if Montreal can find a way to beat the big, bad Philadephia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals, it remains to be seen but the Habs have a potential star netminder for many years to come; barring a contract dispute.

Halak is an RFA at the end of this season, as well as Carey Price.  GM Pierre Gauthier will have decisions to make come off-season, but for right now Montreal is strictly focusing on it feeling a little like ’93.

Not bad for a ninth round draft pick, eh?

The position of goaltending is a funny one, especially in the sport of hockey.

If you notice, the term “head case” is used quite frequently when discussing goaltenders.  Martin Brodeur, Ron Hextall, Billy Smith, Sean Burke, Dan Cloutier, and others have all had their share of “problems” both on and off the ice.

It seems to play from the maturity level of a goaltender.

For the Chicago Blackhawks, maturity was developed quickly.

Antti Niemi was born on August 29, 1983 in Vantaa, Finland.
His professional career began in 2000 where Niemi played junior hockey for Kiekko-Vantaa from 2000 until 2005, when he turned pro with the Pelicans of the Finnish SM-liiga. He played three seasons with the Pelicans before signing with the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

In three seasons with the Pelicans, Niemi appeare in 137 games. He posted a record of 56-52-21 with the Pelicans. He recorded 10 shutouts over the course of three seasons and had a very respectable goals against average and save percentage.

In coming to North America, Niemi spent most of his first season with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

His time in the NHL proved to Chicago ownership that they had a young netminder in their organization that they could grow with.

He posted a record of 18-14-3 in 2008-09 with the IceHogs. He posted two shutouts and earned a 2.43 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

In February 2009, he was called up to the Blackhawks as an injury replacement. He made his NHL debut on February 27, playing one period in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. A few days later,  Niemi recorded his first NHL start and win on March 1, a 4–2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

The following season, Niemi made the Blackhawks lineup out of training camp. Niemi started the second game of a back-to-back season opener against the Florida Panthers in Helsinki as the NHL opened the regular season in Europe. He stopped all 23 shots he faced against the Panthers earning his first NHL shutout in his native Finland on October 3, 2009.

With inconsistencies from Cristobal Huet, Niemi was made the starting goaltender for the Blackhawks near the close of the 2009-2010 NHL regular season and the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Through these playoffs, Niemi has gained confidence and comfort in his crease. He recorded a shutout victory against the Nashville Predators at the United Center, making him the first Blackhawks goaltender since Ed Belfour in 1996 to record a postseason shutout.

On April 22, 2010, Niemi stopped 33 shots to record his second shutout of the postseason, making him the first Chicago goaltender since Tony Esposito in 1974 to record two shutouts in one playoff series.

The Blackhawks were able to escape a scare and went on to defeat the Predators in the first round of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.  However, the second round would bring a more series threat.

The Vancouver Canucks would face off against the Chicago Blackhawks in the semi-finals of the playoffs. For a team with Roberto Luongo and one of the top three offenses in the league, many felt this would be the toughest test for the Blackhawks during this years playoffs to date.

Niemi and company answered the doubters by defeating the Canucks in six games. Though it was not pretty on most nights, the Hawks got the job done.

As of today, number thirty-one has gained a lot as a netminder while battling through these playoffs.  Just last night, in the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, Niemi found a game that would prove just how real this Hawks team is.

His play alone helped the Blackhawks defeat the San Jose Sharks by a final of 2-1, on the road.

Niemi went on to make 44 saves for the victory.

As the days go by, this Hawks netminder grows not only in age but in maturity within his position. For the Hawks, this is a story that will continue to be written as the young goalies career establishes itself in Chicago.

They say that riding a hot goaltender through the playoffs is key to a Stanley Cup appearance.  Niemi has picked the perfect time to get red hot.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

Rookie stand-out, turned journeyman, turned AHLer, back to the spotlight known as the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. That is the story summarized for Philadelphia Flyers starting goaltender, at least in these playoffs, Brian Boucher.

Where to begin?

From the beginning…

Brian Boucher was born on January 2, 1977, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA.

Over the course of 13 NHL seasons, Boucher has played for six different teams.  Currently, he is back with the team that originally drafted him.  To think that this is his third stint with the Flyers might make some of the newer fans of this fine sport scratch their head.

Boucher was drafted in the first round, 22nd overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Flyers. After a stand out rookie season with the club the Flyers felt that the black cloud that has purchased a permanent lease over the organization since the death of Pelle Lindbergh would finally remove it’s ugly head from over the club.

Although they were wrong, today brings positive light.

But getting back to where things started…

Boucher began his NHL career with the Flyers during the 1999-00 season, stealing the starting position from veteran netminder John Vanbiesbrouchand which helped the team secure the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division regular season titles while leading the NHL in goals against average with a stunning 1.91 mark. In the playoffs, he backstopped his team to the Conference finals which they lost in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.

After a weak start to the 2000-01 season, Boucher would lose his starting role with the organization to unorthodox style netminder Roman Checkmanek.

The following season would witness the trade of Brian Boucher to the Phoenix Coyotes. On June 12, 2002, he was traded, along with draft picks, to the Coyotes for Michal Handzus and Robert Esche. A trade that would help the Philadelphia Flyers more than the Coyotes as Esche won the starting role in Philadephia and carried the Flyers on his back. Though they never were successful in winning a championship with Esche, they sure came close.  The problem stood as that sick black cloud that remained over the Flyers could not be removed.

Although, while with Phoenix, Boucher broke the modern-day NHL record for the longest shutout streak by a goalie, going unscored upon for 332 minutes, or the equivalent to five and a half games. On February 1, 2006, Phoenix traded him to the Calgary Flames along with Mike Leclerc for Steven Reinprecht and goaltender Philippe Sauve.

His tenure with Calgary was brief, only appearing in three games over the course of his season there.

Boucher began the 2006-07 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He appeared in 15 games for the Hawks that year, posting a dismal record of 1-10-3.

On February 27, 2007, Boucher was acquired via waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. This would be the fifth team that Boucher would suit up for during his playing career.  As it is labeled within the NHL for players that often change teams, Boucher was becoming a journeyman goaltender within the league and his stock would continue to fall.

Boucher arrived hours prior to the Blue Jackets-Colorado Avalanche game that evening. During the game, he wore Ty Conklin’s jersey – yes, even his number, just to keep uniform. On March 3, 2007, Boucher made his Blue Jackets debut against his former team the Phoenix Coyotes. His first game was a successful 4–3 win. However, the story does not get much better than that.

During the off-season of 2007, after pretty much losing any NHL opportunity possible, the Philadelphia Flyers organization gave Boucher an opportunity to redeem himself and find his game again. The Flyers signed Boucher and automatically place him with their AHL affiliate, the Philadephia Phantoms (now known as the Adirondak Phantoms. 

After playing most of the 2007–08 season with the Phantoms, Boucher signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on February 26, 2008. That season would help earn Boucher the backup role in San Jose.  He appeared in only five games for the Sharks but posted a 3-1-1 record with a 1.76 goals against average and one of the victories came by means of a shutout.

On June 25, 2008, stating how much he liked the San Jose atmosphere, he signed one-year contract with the Sharks worth only $650,000 USD. That year, Boucher recorded consecutive shutouts in each of his first two games for the Sharks, before finally allowing a goal in his third game. He went 12-6-3 for the Sharks that year with two shutouts to his credit.

On July 1, 2009, Boucher agreed to a two year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers who were in search of a capable, veteran back up goalie to fill in if project signing Ray Emery did not work out.

The 2009-10 season was a roller coaster ride for Boucher. Starting the season as the back-up behind Emery was the expected role for the three time Flyers goalie. An injury to Emery would shut him down after approximately a quarter of the season, forcing Boucher into the starting role.  Things did not go well for Boucher as the starter as it appeared there was an issue with his mechanics and his focus.  Not to mention that fact that head coach Peter Laviolette was not comfortable playing Boucher.

An injury to Boucher would lead to the Flyers acquiring yet another journeyman netminder, and another goalie who had been a part of the organization in the past, Michael Leighton. Leighton would take the position by storm and earn the number one role for the team heading into the crucial playoff drive.

As if the inconsistent season full of injuries could not get any worse, it did. Leighton suffered a high ankle sprain forcing the Flyers to turn to Boucher again.

Game number 82 showed the Flyers and their fans something they were not prepared to witness.  An outstanding 2-1 shootout victory over the New York Rangers which gave the Flyers the seventh seed heading into the playoffs.

After appearing in thirty-three games for the Flyers and posting a record of 9-18-3, the Philadelphia faithful felt as if the playoffs would end as quick as they began. Even after his outstanding performance on the final day of the regular season.

Boucher had other ideas.

With all the negativity a positive mark must arrive, right?  Correct we are.

Today Brian Boucher, through the first round of playoff play, is proving all the doubters wrong. Although he has not been called upon to stand on his head, as we hear so many times about goalies in this league, Boucher has been one of the best goaltenders in these 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Through six games in two rounds, Boucher has posted a 4-2 record with a 2.07 goals against average to go along with a .928 save percentage and one shutout. His mechanics have been on point as well as his focus.  He helped the Flyers eliminate the number two seeded New Jersey Devils in just five games in the first round of playoff action. Though debatable, there were plenty of mentions about Boucher outplaying future hall of fame goalie Martin Brodeur.

Tonight will be the seventh playoff game for Boucher.  He will attempt to bring the Flyers back home for game three tied in their series at one game a piece.

Something to be said about the veteran journeyman.

Will history be made for Boucher and the Flyers? If he continues to play the position as perfect as he has, the thought is not impossible.

Mature for this league, although some may differ when it comes to age. Either way, neither have prevented Coyotes number one goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from performing as nothing short of outstanding.

His performance during last year’s IIHF World Championship tournament opened some eyes to the fans who are not as open to the small market teams and their players.

Bryzgalov helped Russia capture gold with a stellar performance during the tournament. Carrying that momentum into this season has provided the Coyotes with a man who can now place his name among the tops in the league within the position.

This year, Ilya Bryzgalov has helped his Phoenix Coyotes into their first playoff birth in many years. He has been rewarded from his outstanding play as being one of the three finalist for the Vezina trophy.  The other two: New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Broduer and Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller.  Not to shabby to be part of that group of goalies.

Ilya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov was born on June 22, 1980, in Togliatti, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.

Starting his professional career in his native Russia, Bryzgalov played for two teams during the 1999-00 season. He started out in the RSL-2 with the team known as Spartak Moscow and then jumped up to the Russian Superleague (RSL) to play for Lada Togliatti.

Bryzgalov was selected 44th overall during the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the, at the time, Anaheim Mighty Ducks.  He played 78 games total over the course of five seasons as a member of the Ducks organization.

With All-Star netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere and back-up Martin Gerber ahead of him in the club’s depth chart, Bryzgalov spent the better part of his first four seasons in North America with the Ducks AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. He made his NHL debut with the Mighty Ducks during the 2001-02, playing in his first of two games during that four-season stretch.

During the summer of 2005, Gerber departed which in turn finally opened a door for Bryzgalov to get some real NHL time. During the 2005-06 season, Giguere went down with an injury allowing Bryzgalov to finally show his capabilities between the pipes.

That year, he responded to the challenge with a 13-12-1 regular season record.  He posted a 2.51 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. The Ducks made the playoffs that season and Bryzgalov made three starts with one relief appearance in their first-round series against the Calgary Flames.

In Game One, he filled in for an injured Giguère, recording a 2–1 overtime loss^. He would again relieve Giguère in Game 5, stopping all 19 shots he faced in a 3–2 loss. At that point, the Ducks handed the starting position to Bryzgalov for Games 6 and 7 of the series, winning 2–1 in Game 6 and recording a shutout in the decisive Game 7.

Advancing further into the playoffs, Bryzgalov found himself on top of his game. He recorded 5–0 and 3–0 shutouts in the first two games of the second series against the Colorado Avalanche, giving the young netminder three consecutive shutouts which tied the 1945 record set by Frank McCool, and passed Giguère who had recorded consecutive shutouts during the 2003 playoffs which held the record for the third longest playoff shutout streak of all-time.

Despite his success in the first two rounds, Bryzgalov struggled in the semi-finals against the Edmonton Oilers. He was eventually replaced by Giguère for the rest of the series as the Ducks were eliminated in five games.

On November 16, 2007, Bryzgalov was placed on waivers and claimed by the Phoenix Coyotes the following day.

With the Coyotes, he stepped into an organization who were unsure of the direction they were heading in. However, Bryzgalov showed the Coyotes he was prepared to be a full time number one netminder.

His first year with Phoenix saw Bryzgalov appear in 55 games posting a record of 26-22-5 with a 2.42 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Last season was a bit of a down year for Bryzgalov as he posted a record of 26-31-6 with a 2.98 goals against average and a save percentage of .906.

As mentioned previously, the World Championships that took place last season helped Bryzgalov become exactly what he is today.

A career year for Bryzgalov has helped propel the Coyotes into a game seven first round series during this years Stanley Cup playoffs. Even if his opponent are the mighty Detroit Red Wings, the regular season alone has been a story in itself.

If the Coyotes do advance to this year’s semi-finals, one thing has made itself clear.  Ilya Bryzgalov has fed life into a franchise that is currently in turmoil.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC