Apr 14, 2016
Post 2 Post: Elliott brilliant for Blues
Each night during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan provides his Post 2 Post rankings. He gives out top marks to Brian Elliott for his shutout, as well as Jeff Zatkoff, Ben Bishop, and Corey Crawford.
Each night during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan provides his Post 2 Post rankings for every goaltender in action. Each goaltender will receive a score out of five based on their performance.
Pittsburgh Penguins 5 New York Rangers 2
Jeff Zatkoff (5): Zatkoff allowed two goals but made three big saves early on in the game when the Penguins were being outshot 12-3. He hadn’t started a game since late February and continued to look more comfortable as the game went on.
Henrik Lundqvist (4): Lundqvist left the game early after taking a stick in eye but was playing well before the injury. He wasn’t tested much as the Pens were back on their heels early on. We will have to track the injury.
Antti Raanta (3): Raanta was not at fault on the goals against; breakaway by Sidney Crosby, back door play on Tom Kuhnhackl’s goal, and some crease battling on the Patric Hornqvist goals.
Tampa Bay Lightning 3 Detroit Red Wings 2
Ben Bishop (5): Bishop was great tonight. He had no chance on both goals against as they were deflections but made four huge saves as Detroit continued to press. His post play was really strong in this game as well as his active stick on the blocker side, he poked two pucks out of harm’s way.
Jimmy Howard (3): It was a solid game for Howard, with not much he could have done on the goals against. They were lateral plays that were back door shots. Howard gave his team a chance to hang in there; I don’t think he comes out for Petr Mrazek.
St. Louis Blues 1 Chicago Blackhawks 0 (OT)
Brian Elliott (5): Elliott was brilliant all night long, with three huge saves on Jonathan Toews alone. He kept his team in it early while Chicago pushed, faced five power plays in the game, was really patient, made saves look easy by not making the first move, and earned his first career playoff shutout.
Corey Crawford (5): Crawford was strong all night long as well, with the fluky bounce for the game-winning goal not his fault. Crawford looked dialed in early, with no rust in his game for a guy who has played just one game in a month. He had two big saves on Vlad Tarasenko with the shoulders, held upright and patient. You can’t blame the loss on him, the difference was a bounce.