Goalies are Overrated - Thing of Beauty

Go watch that Dylan Larkin goal from last night.

The Goal

Corey Schneider is a good goalie - some would say one of the top goalies. On this play, he does all he can. He throws that stick down on a nice back flip. Many players, after beating a goalie on that shoulder dip, faux-wrister, would put that finisher toward the middle of the net. If so, Schneider would look amazing - he covered the middle with that stick. Dylan puts it close to the post - no chance for any goalie. He completes what was just a beauty of a move.

So is it really a great save if on that very play Larkin puts it to the middle of the net and gets stopped by Schneider? The goalie is doing only all he can. Larkin is the one that controls the outcome.

Shooters and goal-scorers really need to get more credit. The difference between goals and saves has a lot to do with the shooter's choice. And so i have to say - guys from the top down who continually are able to put it in the net, regardless of the net-minder, prove that Goalies are Overrated.

*Might I add a baseball analogy? Ok, I will then:
Crediting the goalie for wins and saves would be like crediting the fielders on a baseball team for a pitcher's perfect game. Of course the fielders have to do their job - no errors. But the pitcher sets the plate. Never have fielders created a perfect game behind a poor pitcher. It is the same for goalies. The batter and pitcher determine what is field-able in baseball. The system/skaters and shooters determine what is savable in hockey. Dylan Larkin is showing that he is that special "batter" and that play above is a good example.