Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Somebody Stop That Masked Man!

December 22, 2014, 4:35 PM ET [194 Comments]
Matt Henderson
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
We are almost halfway through the year and the goaltending issues that have plagued the team still haven't been worked out. The Oilers just blew a home game after they scored 5 goals and at one time had a 5-2 lead. The team has lost 18 of their last 19 games and so much of the problem falls on the goaltending that most people don't want to believe it's even possible.

When the season started I was fairly happy with the situation in net and now I couldn't be more disappointed with it. Ben Scrivens was at least an average goalie. Viktor Fasth was at least an average goalie. Average was all I wanted. Average you could live with!

As a team the Oilers have been betrayed by the men behind the masks. Edmonton has given up 116 goals, the most of any team in the league. Their goal differential is 1 off of the worst at -42. It is incredible given that there are almost 50 more games to play. It's shocking.

Here are the Oilers numbers compared to the league median in 3 major game states: 5v5, 5v4 PP, and 5v4 PK. The Median being the exact middle, where above that is the upper half of the NHL and below that is the lower half. Along with the median number I include how many goals the Oilers would have allowed getting that dead middle of the NHL back-stopping.

5v5 Oilers: .903 sv% 815 SA, 79G
5v5 Median: .923 sv% Expected: 63G

5v4 PP Oilers: .750 sv% 20 SA, 5G
5v4 PP Median: .927 sv% Expected: 1G

5v4 PK Oilers: .866 sv% 142 SA, 19G
5v4 PK Median: .876 sv% Expected: 18G

Oilers Total: 103 Goals Against
Expected Total: 82 Goals Against

We're talking about a 21 goal swing right there and a lot of the 1 goal games the Oilers lost turn into Wins or at least go to OT. Maybe they're still on the outside looking in for the playoffs but at least they aren't this embarrassing.

The fact that the team has a better save percentage short handed than it does up a man is facepalmingly sad.

This team has nothing if it doesn't have goaltending. That goes for any team, but no amount of 1st Overall picks is going to help the goaltender stop the puck like he should.

I've been asking all year who among the netminders was going to step up. The answer is nobody and it's too late anyway. MacTavish needs to find a goaltender before the start of next year. This has to be among his highest priorities.

Follow me on Twitter @Archaeologuy
Join the Discussion: » 194 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Matt Henderson
» Farewell
» The Most Dangerous Game
» Calling Kovalchuk
» Oilers Sign Koskinen
» Oilers Drafting 10th...If At All