Halak Chasing McLean’s Playoff Record For Saves

By now it is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are the story of the 2010 NHL playoffs.  Much has been much written about Jaroslav Halak and his fantastic performances, backstopping the Habs to the third round. However, a lot of the focus on records has been on Mike Cammalleri chasing Reggie Leach’s 19  playoff goals.

While Cammalleri, who currently has 12 goals, could reach that record and it would be a great accomplishment, Jaroslav Halak is on pace to beat one the top 10 NHL playoff records of all time.

Most Saves In One Playoff Year

Prior to the first game of the conference final versus the Flyers, Halak had already registered 420 saves in 13 games during this playoff run.  Halak is averaging 32.3 Saves/Game and had 119 more saves than Chicago’s Antti Niemi heading into Sunday’s action.  At this pace, if the Canadiens play 11 more games in this playoff year, Halak will likely take over Kirk McLean’s record of 761 saves.

For Halak to reach this record, of course, means that the Canadiens must win the Eastern Conference and make it to the Stanley Cup Final. But, after knocking off the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, beating Philadelphia seems like a definite possibility.

Even if we assume the minimum number of games that the Canadiens could play if they won the Eastern Conference (8), at an average of 32.3 saves per game, Halak would still record the most saves made in the playoffs with 678 since Olaf Kolzig recorded 696 in 1998.

Here is a quick reference of the playoff leaders in saves.

This is one of those records, like the most losses by a goaltender in a career, nobody really wants to break. But, the most saves in a playoff run is still a great accomplishment and underscores the effect that having a hot goaltender in the playoffs can still have.

UPDATE: As this post went to publication, Halak was just chased from the Montreal net in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final after making just 9 saves on 13 shots.

NHL History In The Making…Maybe

It is unlikely that this is in response to the accusations that the latest NHL History Will be Made videos outright neglected the Montreal Canadiens, but the NHL has continued with their series of promotional videos of historic NHL playoff events by adding a recent goal from Mike Cammalleri to their arsenal.

Cammalleri knocked a puck out of mid-air past a sprawling Marc- Andre Fleury in Game #2 of the Montreal vs. Pittsburgh series to seal the victory for the Canadiens.

A tremendous display of hand-eye coordination, coupled with the victory by the underdog and the simplicity of the production made for what was likely an easy decision by the NHL to release another video.

Will This Really Be Memorable?

Sure, Cammalleri’s goal was a great display of athleticism and propelled the underdog to victory, but this is Game 2 of a second round series. The History Will Be Made commercials leading up to the playoffs depicted pivotal events in hockey history. Now it’s Game 2 of the second round?

So, If the NHL is going down this road, what other moments in this season’s playoffs are just as deserving (or more) than Cammalleri’s goal?

Is it a slippery slope for the NHL to begin depicting which events from the current playoffs will “make history”?

P.S – I wonder how long we will see the History Will Be Made Parody videos continue to pile up on YouTube?

Capitals and Canadiens Not Playing Playoff Hockey

The NHL playoffs are often known as being a much more physically demanding brand of game than that of the regular season.  In addition, there is a notion that referees tend to “let the boys play” a bit more as opposed to being as stringent on the rulebook. Although, there appears to be evidence to the contrary.

To that end, the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals have been playing what amounts to pond hockey in the first round.  According to the series statistics, only one player from either team is listed in the top 30 in hits thus far. (Matt Bradley – 22nd)

2010 NHL Playoff Hits

Further to this, a Montreal Canadiens player doesn’t enter this list until Dominic Moore’s name appears in the 81st slot.  In fact, the Canadiens are dead last in total hits with 112 in these playoffs.  One might assume that the Canadiens would want to be a little more physical against a potent offensive teams like the Capitals. They’ve also lost more faceoffs than any other team, giving puck possession to the Capitals 58.9% of the time.

Staying Out Of The Box

In addition to the lack of physical contact in this series, as one might expect, there have also been very few penalties called.  Except for Bench Minors of course, of which each team has two.

As you can see in the image above, the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals are neck and neck with the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators for penalty minutes in their respective series’.

The Verdict

The Capitals and Canadiens are playing a brand of hockey that is most conducive to a Capitals victory, being the more skilled team. That said, we all know that playoff games and series can be won or lost with goaltending. And stellar Goaltending is what neither team has had consistently.

Unless Montreal gets another outstanding performance like the .974 Save percentage he posted in Game #5, look for the Capitals to finish off the Canadiens tonight.

Top 10 NHL Playoff Records

As NHL hockey fans, we all know that playoff hockey is a completely different game.  While regular season hockey provides months of entertainment, the style of game played in the spring is unrivaled.

Long after the snow and ice have left the rivers and lakes of North America, men who grew up playing on those frozen ponds take to hockey’s biggest stage in their annual quest for the Stanley Cup.

Playoff hockey is known to make even the best of the best raise their game to a new level. And, even those not celebrated as mainstream superstars often rise to the occasion in the playoffs – living their fifteen minutes of fame as the most unlikely of heroes.

Without further adieu, let’s take a look at the NHL Digest version of the Top 10 Playoff Records.

Top 10 Playoff Records

10.) Most Game Winning Goals – Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning – 2004

In 2004 Not many hockey fans gave the Lightning much of a shot at winning the Stanley Cup. Brad Richards, however, had other ideas.  On his way to leading the Lightning to the Stanley Cup, Richards amassed a record 7 Game Winning Goals.  Along with his 7 game winners, he added five more goals and 14 assists to lead all scorers in the playoffs with 26 points.  Richards scored four goals and five assists in the Stanley Cup finals alone, vaulting him to the Conn Smythe Trophy!

9.) Most Points By A Defenceman – Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers – 1985

The Edmonton Oilers of the mid-1980′s were a nearly unstoppable force in the playoffs. So, it came as no surprise when they managed to win the Stanley Cup in 1985 while losing just twice in the postseason.  What is surprising is that in just 18 playoff games, Oiler defenseman Paul Coffey, managed to rack up an astounding 37 points! Prior to Coffey’s offensive outburst in 1985, no defenseman had scored more than 25 points in a single playoff year. Coffey even managed to tie Wayne Gretzky for points in the Stanley Cup final with 11.

8.) Most Goals In A Series – Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers – 1985

Yet another playoff record set by an Edmonton Oiler in 1985. The Oilers were on a mission in 1985 and when they met up with the Chicago Blackhawks in the conference final, it was an all-out offensive assault for 6 games.  Kurri managed to notch 12 goals in the six game series on the back of a 4 goal performance in Game 6.  He also had two other hat tricks in the series and lead all goal scorers in the 1985 playoffs with 19.

7.) Most Saves In A Single Game – Tiny Thompson, Boston Bruins – 1933

It isn’t often that a losing goalie finds his way into the record books (at least for good records) but one can’t help but appreciate the spectacular effort displayed by Thompson in the fifth and deciding game of the Bruins’ series with Toronto in 1933.  In unbelievable fashion the Leafs and Bruins managed to play 8 periods of scoreless hockey!

In the ninth period, after over 164 minutes of hockey, the Leafs finally beat Tiny Thompson to win the game and the series. Thompson had made an incredible 113 saves. Not bad for a night’s work!

6.) Most Saves In The Playoffs – Kirk McLean, Vancouver Canucks – 1994

In the 1994 playoffs, the 27 year old Canucks goaltender took the team on his back and authored an amazing run to the Stanley Cup Final.  The Canucks allowed an average of 34 shots/game, but McLean was up to the task. McLean made a miraculous 761 saves in the playoffs, with a save percentage of .928 and 4 shutouts.  However, it was all for nothing as the Canucks lost in 7 games to the New York Rangers in the Cup Final.

McLean’s 761 saves are 63 more than Ron Hextall made when he won the Conn Smythe in 1987 on the losing team.  If it were not for Brian Leetch’s remarkable attempt (34 points) at Paul Coffey’s record for most points by a defenceman in the playoffs, McLean would have a Conn Smythe trophy on his mantle today. Some argue that he should have won it anyway.

5.) Consecutive Games  With A point – Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders – 1980-1982

In what is believed to be one of the most overlooked records on the NHL’s books, Bryan Trottier’s consistent playoff scoring certainly deserves a spot in our Top 5 playoff records.

To think that one player could score at least one point in every playoff game he played over the course of three seasons is outstanding.  The 1997 Hall of Fame inductee managed to score points in 27 consecutive playoff games from 1980-1982, helping the Islanders secure their place as the dynasty franchise of the early 80′s.

4.) Most Points – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 1985

Of course, no NHL Top 10 Record list would be complete without an entry from The Great One. Wayne Gretzky and his Edmonton Oilers absolutely blitzed the playoff record books in 1985.

Not only did Gretzky manage an astounding 47 points (17 Goals, 30 Assists) in the Oilers’ playoff run; he did so in just 18 games. That also gives Gretzky the record for the most points per game in the playoffs at 2.61*. Gretzky’s linemate, Jari Kurri, was the chief beneficiary of his 30 assists. As mentioned above, Kurri managed 19 Goals in the 1985 playoffs to tie Reggie Leach for the league record.
*Minimum 10 playoff points.

3.) Consecutive Overtime Wins – Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens – 1993

The Montreal Canadiens started off the 1993 playoffs very slowly, losing their first two games but ‘St. Patrick’ would bail them out. Patrick Roy did just that; backstopping the Canadiens to four straight wins against the Nordiques in the first round, four more consecutive wins in the second round and three straight wins to start the third round.  Amazingly, Roy and the Canadiens managed 10 consecutive overtime victories, including 3 overtime wins in the Stanley Cup final versus Wayne Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings!

The 1993 playoffs were an anomaly when it came to the number of overtime contests. Some 28 games needed extra time during the 1993 playoffs, which happens to be a league record as well.

2.) Career Playoff Wins – Patrick Roy, 1986-2003

Patrick Roy absolutely dominates this record. In fact, Roy has 151 playoff victories while just two other goalies (Martin Brodeur 179*, Eddie Belfour 161) have even played in as many playoff games. Roy’s intensity and focus allowed him to take his teams deep into the playoffs; one of the reasons that he owns this record by such a wide margin.

On the strength of those deep playoff runs, including 4 Stanley Cups, Roy played in a staggering 247 career playoff games. This sheer volume of games played is also the reason that Patrick Roy has the most career playoff losses of any goalie in NHL history as well – 94.

*Martin Brodeur is still active at the time of publication
1.) Most Stanley Cups – Henri Richard, Montreal Canadiens – 1956-1975

Eleven. That is a massive number of championships for one payer to have been a part of as a player. This record tops our list as the most unbreakable playoff record for good reason. If we can assume a relatively long career in the NHL lasts 20 seasons, a player would need to win the Stanley Cup on average more than every two years to eclipse this record.

With the current parity in the league and the salary cap affecting players’ tenure with clubs, we think this record will stand for a very long time.

Of note is that Richard’s Montreal teammate, Jean Beliveau, has his name on the Stanley Cup 17 times. However, 7 of those were as a member of management. Imagine having 17 Stanley Cup rings!

Your Thoughts

So, what do you think?

Are these playoff records in the correct order?

Are there other NHL playoff records that you would include in this list?

Resources:
Legends of Hockey.net
Wikipedia NHL
HockeyDB.com
Hockey Hall of Fame Records

Montreal Gazette Slams Price, Twitter Fans Come to Rescue

One of the fantastic things about social media and the internet is how absolutely fast and interactive it has become. It is truly a minute-to-minute conversation, and often even faster than that.

A great example of this occurred just following the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Now, being a Habs fan, I was watching the game of course. And, I was as disappointed as anyone when the Canadiens managed to squander a 2-0 lead in the last few minutes of the game.

However, it was quite obvious that neither of the Buffalo goals scored in regulation time were remotely close to being the fault of Carey Price.

But, that’s not what the Montreal Gazette would have you believe! I know that headlines sell papers etc. , but following the game a ghastly headline topped an article about the Canadiens’ loss.

“Price Blows It For Habs In Buffalo”

What happened in the next few minutes on Twitter was one of the finest and quickest examples of Social Media influence as well as engagement and ownership by a brand that I have witnessed.

As we can see in the screenshot below, Canadiens fans immediately found the headline unacceptable.  And, within minutes, an employee of the Montreal Gazette agreed.
(@habsinsideout1 is Dave Stubbs, a Columnist/sports feature writer with the Montreal Gazette and habsinsideout.com)

At the same time that this conversation was going on, the headline on the Montreal Gazette website was changed.

The new headline doesn’t implicate Carey Price any longer and only identifies that the Canadiens gave up a lead late in the game.

Of course, on the internet there is always a trail of evidence! That said, even with a new headline, the article URL still identifies remnants of the original.

Of course, this type of social media backlash is not new, nor is it infrequent in this day and age. But, this is one of the first times I have witnessed it first hand.

What resonated with me, more than anything, was the ownership that Dave  Stubbs took in agreeing that the Gazette had made an error. It’s fine to make an error, people make mistakes. In fact, it’s entirely possible that Pat Hickey didn’t even write the headline.

What would fans’ reaction have been if Dave didn’t take ownership and remedy the situation?

Granted, this isn’t a huge crisis issue (although some in Montreal would beg to differ) but I think it’s a great example of how being engaged in social media can help a brand intercept and diffuse even the smallest of issues before they have a chance to snowball.

What do you think?

P.S- If you notice, I made an error in the URL of this article. How fitting.

Update: Given the nature of this post, it is only fitting that I update it with Dave Stubbs final tweet on the subject. Great job Dave!

Update: from Kyle Roussel of Cowhide and Rubber

I can’t help but feel like somewhere, some editor is giggling, excited that their trash headline generated all kinds of clicks, which that person will then trot in front of their boss, who will nod approvingly and in turn prop that up as proof to potential advertisers that people actually do read the Gazette website.

The Most Misspelled Name On The Stanley Cup?

Why would we be interested in such an odd record? Well, for one thing, you have to win the Stanley Cup in order to get your name misspelled on it. And, this Hall of Famer was an instrumental player on a very successful team!

Stanley Cup Engraving Errors

The record belongs to Montreal Canadiens goaltending legend Jacques Plante. His name has been misspelled on hockey’s Holy Grail an amazing five times! Some of the errors include ‘Jack’, ‘Jocko’ and ‘Plant’. Despite this curious fact, the famous Canadiens goaltender has many other numerous achievements to be remembered for.

About Jacques Plante

Jacques Plante, known as “Jake the Snake”, played for the Montreal Canadians for 10 years between 1953 and 1963. He won the Stanley Cup six times (to get his name misspelled five of these). What is even more amazing is that the Montreal Canadiens won 5 cups in a row during his tenure!

Plante’s individual awards are just as impressive. They include numerous selections for the NHL First All-Star Team, being a Vezina Trophy winner 3 times and winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in the 1961-62 NHL season.

The First Goalie Mask

Plante is certainly most famously known as the first goaltender to wear a mask in regular season games. In fact, he was actually one of the inventors and developers of the goalie mask. After receiving seven stitches to the face and a broken cheek bone, courtesy of an intentional shot by Andy Bathgate, Plante began to wear a mask on a regular basis.The original fiberglass goaltender mask that he wore on that famous occasion in November of 1959 is preserved to this day in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Retirement

Jacques Plante was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978 and was selected to the Canadian sports Hall of Fame in 1981. Plante died in Geneva, Switzerland on February 27, 1986 from stomach cancer and was laid to rest in Sierre, Switzerland.

This is one record that will likely never be broken. Not only would a player have to win the Stanley Cup five times or more, engravers with today’s technology would have to be awfully clumsy to make an error that many times.

I think this record is safe. What do you think?

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