Goalies are Overrated: And now, why the Panthers are struggling.

The Florida Panthers just put together a 12 game win streak. They were riding a goals against average during those 12 games less than 1.25.

After an overtime loss to Vancouver, Calgary destroys the Panthers 6 - 0. Rookie Sam Bennett C notches four.
Roberto Luongo G started the game and was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 15 shots. Then Al Montoya steps in to give up two more goals on 21 shots.

They are now winless in two games.

Clearly, the goalies are getting lazy. I mean - in these two games, they have given up more than half as many goals as in the previous 12. TWELVE games to two games. It has to be the goaltending. And crazy enough, both goalies are out of focus at the same time. Al Montoya has only one game giving up more than two goals this season. Last night, he gave up two in two periods. Luongo gave up 4 in the first. Dang goalies!

Well, there is another thing. Aaron Ekblad D.

Aaron Ekblad got hit by Edmonton's Matt Hendricks C in the third period in game twelve of the win streak. Ekblad didn't return to that game and hasn't been in the last two either. He's just one player. But he is one special player on a very well coached system team. On most nights, Ekblad plays big minutes against the better forwards that the opposition throws out there. His minutes are key and he has risen up this season after an up and down start - he's been a KEY component in those twelve victories.

As a note on this Florida team. Coach Gerard Gallant is a good system guy. Think Dave Tippett in Arizona and Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis. These coaches put out defense-first systems and build units that play together well. In such systems, no player is more important than the machine. But every player affects the balance. Of course, some players affect the balance more than others. An injured third liner can often not be missed as the fourth line guy fills in respectably. However, when a top-line guy goes out, the whole system gets jostled. Aaron Ekblad is that guy. And currently, the Panthers have not adjusted to him being out.

It is funny how it works. The Panthers have been playing well all year. Except when one of the top line guys goes out. Earlier in the season it was Aleksander Barkov C. He went out and the team just wasn't productive. He returned shortly before the 12 game win streak. Now Ekblad goes down and the Panthers can't generate goals while giving up some beauties that neither goalie could stop. No goalie in the league stops those. Arguably the third and 5th goals were weak, but realistically, goals like that are scored a lot in this league against every goalie - Jonathan Quick to Brian Elliot.

By the way, three of Sam Bennett's four goals are beauties. Go watch them. Especially his third one.

All of this just makes me scratch my head - it is not a goalie game. The goalies can only save what is savable and most all do. So until goalies are viewed more as thermometers of a team's system and less as the KEY to wins, I have to shout Goalies are Overrated.