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This week's rankings are in line with teams that are in the hunt for a playoff spot, so don't get upset if your main guy isn't on the list. My thinking is this: Right now, this is the season that counts, and if you are in the race then the heat is at its hottest -- and that's the biggest challenge the you can ask for.
It's not like any one goalie is REALLY standing on his head and spitting out wooden nickels, but we have had some exceptional performances.
| |  | | | Vokoun |
It looks like Tomas Vokoun may be running out of gas in Nashville as he and the Predators have lost four of their last six games (with one tie). While Vokoun got the Predators to this spot by being the difference in many games, he had just 15 saves in the loss to Edmonton (a most critical four-point game) and 15 saves in the 3-1 loss at Minnesota. He may still get enough votes to be in the top five for the Vezina. He deserves all the credit he gets after taking over after Mike Dunham was traded. The future looks bright in Nashville.
| |  | | | Brathwaite |
Speaking of Nashville, they had an interest in Blues goalie Fred Brathwaite before acquiring Wade Flaherty, but the Blues would not trade him. But now that they've got Chris Osgood, they're releasing the likeable little goalie from Nepean, Ontario. It doesn't seem fair to let a guy go at this time of the season. Right now, all the rosters are set and, basically, there is no place to play. This, after facing thousands and thousands of pucks in practice with the hope that someday you may be a part of winning the Cup in St. Louis. There had to be another way for GM Larry Pleau to deal with the situation so he at least could be a part of the playoff run, third wheel or not. Brathwaite will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
| |  | | | Roloson |
Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said he'd wait for the final 10 games to see if one of his goalies took control before deciding on a playoff starter. After Manny Fernandez gave up five goals in the first period to Columbus, is he now leaning toward Dwayne Roloson? Roloson made 20 saves the rest of the way, then started in the 3-3 tie at Tampa Bay. Keep your eyes on the Wild. Good to see good guy Roloson sign a new deal before he became an unrestricted free agent.
| |  | | | Snow |
It's a shame we talk about the size of Garth Snow's shoulder pads rather than how well he's playing. I had a talk with one NHL official who read the rulebook to me and wondered why the broadness of the shoulders wasn't considered "ridges" like it is explained in the book. The NHL will soon be looking for someone to replace Dave Dryden as the equipment guru and the No. 1 thing they will look for is someone who is going to be more demanding in regards to the goalie equipment. Give Snow credit for taking advantage, but more so for his improvement technically when it comes to stopping the puck. He is a terrific communicator on the ice, always letting his defenseman know what is going on and where to put the puck.
The duo in Tampa Bay has been good, but because they have basically alternated the past five games, neither one ends up making the top five. John Grahame played the 3-3 game vs. Minny, making 17 saves. Nikolai Khabibulin played the game before, a 2-1 win at Montreal, and was named the first star with 23 saves. Khabby is coming on at just the right time.
Lets get to the rankings before the postseason starts!
The top five:
|  | | Cechmanek |
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5. Roman Cechmanek, Philadelphia Flyers
5 GP, 3-2-0, 2.65 GAA, .887 save percentage
The Flyers haven't given up a lot of great scoring chances, but when they have, the big guy has been good. They finally played a strong game at New Jersey on Monday, winning 4-2; Roman was strong, stopping 27 shots. He enjoyed a pretty easy afternoon in Pittsburgh on ABC on Saturday, facing only 14 shots in a 4-1 win. Prior to that, he faced just 15 shots in a 5-3 win over Carolina. His partner, Robert Esche played well in Washington, only to lose 2-1. There is clearly less pressure on the goaltending and the defense now that John LeClair is back, and the key addition of Tony Amonte has ignited some much needed confidence as far as the offense is concerned -- they have scored 13 goals in three games since the trade.
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|  | | Giguere |
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4. Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
5 GP, 2-1-1, 2.41 GAA, .931 save percentage
If J.S. slipped in the back door of the Vezina voting, no one in the Western Conference would be shocked. He has been a rock for this gritty team, which has it going at the right time. I love the addition of veteran playoff performer Steve Thomas, as he has been an integral force right off the hop. Giguere, meanwhile has gone 2-1-1 in his last five games, and although he was pulled in the 4-2 loss at Phoenix, it was the way in which he bounced back in the next game that impressed me -- he stopped 37 shots in the 2-2 tie vs. Calgary. At this time of year, you will have an off night, but if you want to be a top player you have to be a leader and pivotal piece in the next game. His most impressive win was the 4-1 victory vs. the Wings, making 39 saves and earning second star.
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|  | | Kolzig |
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3. Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals
5 GP, 2-1-1, 2.83 GAA, .879 save percentage
The Capitals will go only as far as 'Zilla takes them. They were looking for an experienced defenseman and gritty role player at the deadline and came away with offensive-minded Sergei Berezin instead (although he's been good). The Caps are in a battle with the Lightning for top spot in the Southeast – the third seed and home ice. They came away with a win in a playoff-like performance vs. Colorado on Sunday on ESPN2 behind Kolzig's 21 saves. He was sharp in the 3-1 loss vs. L.A. (29 saves, third star) and beat the Flyers 2-1 (second star). He has gone 3-1-1 in his past five games and will be the key in their opening round playoff series, quite possibly against Khabibulin and Tampa Bay.
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|  | | Theodore |
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2. Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadiens
5 GP, 3-2-0, 1.79 GAA, .942 save percentage
Last year's Hart and Vezina Trophy winner caught fire this year too late, but its good to see him playing with the same kind of confidence that he showed last season. The Habs are not mathematically out of the hunt, but will need the Islanders to fall off the map, and that doesn't appear likely. Theodore has gone 3-1-0 in his past four games, losing a close one against Tampa Bay, 2-1, before winning three straight by a combined score of 11-3. He beat Atlanta 4-2, Florida 4-0 and Nashville 3-1.
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|  | | Joseph |
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1. Curtis Joseph, Detroit Red Wings
5 GP, 4-1-0, 2.79 GAA, .913 save percentage
He has slowly made the adjustment in terms of being the main man in hockey-mad Detroit and he gets the nod as No. 1 based on his last three wins. He was the first star in Sunday's convincing 6-2 win over the East's best team, Ottawa. Cujo was brilliant in stopping 41 shots, while his counterpart, Patrick Lalime was pulled at the other end. On ABC on Saturday, he beat Patrick Roy and the Avalanche, 5-3 (21 saves) and won 3-2 at Phoenix, stopping 27 shots and earning third-star honors. The Wings are the hottest team in the NHL now, winning 15 of their last 17 games.
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Darren Pang, a former goaltender with the Chicago Blackhawks, is a hockey analyst for ESPN. His goalie rankings appear every other week in Net Effect.
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