As humans, we know that feeling - before anything is certain - we feel it. A cold is coming. A little groggy or maybe the stomach signals us but whatever it is, we know it. Some colds can be vicious and roll us over. Some whimper through and are gone without truly slowing us down - just a distraction. Regardless, when it hits one certain way to measure the seriousness of the virus is take out the thermometer and place it under the tongue (or wherever you prefer...).
The thermometer is a good way to measure how the virus is impacting the body. A high reading can give an "oh shit" moment. Normal readings and we march on.
This is the analogy I continually fall back on when I think of goalies. Goalies are a thermometer measuring the overall temperature of the defensive side of the system in front of them.
Every goalie in the NHL can make the big save. Every goalie plays things with similar positional philosophies although relying on slightly different styles based on strengths and confidence. A goalie with exceptional glove skills might cheat one way whereas a strong positional goalie with quick skates cheats out toward a shot more. There are lots of small variations. Regardless, every NHL goalie is reliable.
If a goalie isn't reliable - letting in softies, they don't last. It's like field goal kickers in the NFL - you miss a few gimme attempts in key moments and, well, you are back home. Goalies are either able to stop the certain ones or they are home too.
Regardless of what style a goalie plays, if the system he is behind is weak - that goalie gets scored on. A solid system and the goalie receives easier shots to save or less of them overall. The goalie can only take what he is given.
So like a thermometer stuck under your tongue does nothing to fight the virus inflicting the body, a goalie does nothing to determine how an opponent sets up the shots aimed his way. The better the player shooting and the more time the player has to make the shot or the quicker and cleaner the play develops that generates the shot has nothing to do with the goalie. The goalie has to just wait and accept what gets fired at the goal.
Tim Thomas on the Bruins is a great example. This guy played with wreckless abandon almost the entire 2011 season. Go back and watch how he played. Watch where he positioned himself and the overall aggressiveness he displayed. You cannot coach a kid to do the sort of things Thomas did that season. Why not? Because with an ordinary defense you are getting shelled and then pulled. Tim Thomas was able to attack every shot that season. The defensive system combined with the team speed and size and Zdeno Chara at his best anchoring a solid D group allowed the goalie freedoms to be aggressive and freedom to overplay the shooter because the pass wouldn't be available. It worked and looking at Thomas's numbers confirms the group in front of him was stellar. His successes reflected his team's greatness. Tuuka Rask has had similar successes backing Boston - his style being quite different than Thomas's though. Until last season, that is. And truly the team in front of Rask is barely a shadow of the team Thomas was behind.
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