Comments for Mason vs. Fleury vs. Ward at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Fri, 24 May 2013 21:46:09 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/2144-mason-vs-fleury-vs-ward#comment-632 Ward has more experience than Fleury? Really? Fleury has been to 2 cup finals now compared to 1 for Ward. Both have a cup. Fleury played for team Canada in 2 WJHC. Fleury has played 10 more regular season NHL games to this point of their careers. Fleury has played in 8 more NHL playoff games. The only thing that I could think you were referring to is Ward playing part time in the Worlds for Canada last year at the same time Fleury was playing for the Pens in a deep cup run. - phaneuf_fan_3 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:51:59 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/2144-mason-vs-fleury-vs-ward#comment-588 i say none of them... Starting goalies and backups have totally different mindsets. At the end of last season when a writer here (forget who) chose clemmensen as the backup goalie of the year, i took offense. Clemmensen;s role is what we are trying to fill here, but that is the role of the also ran. They are not really backups since they do not dress, they are not starters, they are the guy who suits up if 2 people get hurt or flounder. If you take any of those 3 you will have a guy who is used to starting, and may not be ready to step in asap since they are not used to it While i talk about Clemmensen as the perfect guy for this role, he is american (and should be on the US team in at least this capasity if not the #1 or 2). I think he has a few qualities that we should all look for in a 3rd international goalie: 1) NHL level skill. we are not looking at anyone who would not be at least a backup in the NHL or starter in the KHL. That is about 80 guys with about 40 of them being canadian. 2) not a full time NHL starter 3) has something to prove. In the WBC Pedro Martinez and Sydney Ponson were this type of player. Proven vets that at one point showed they have great talent, but had fallen off. since they have something to prove they will still take a small role seriously. While i am an american that could care less about country of orgin for any of these guys, here are a few other names that may be willing to take this role: Martin Gerber (recent KHL move, this would show he is still the amazing backup we all veiwed him as before last year), or Steve Mason (he was a starter, lost the job and now has something to prove). I explained why i chose those 2, i am sure if they are not canadian, there are canadians in similar situations as those 2. - notoriousjim Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:42:31 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/2144-mason-vs-fleury-vs-ward#comment-586 Good stuff Kraftster and nice stat!! I think most analysts would say that "needing a lot of shots to play at his best..." is a negative or a knock against the goalie. I personally treat that as part of the fabric of a young goalie. Every talented young star to ever play the position tends to play stronger when they see more shots, it's just a fact of goaltending nature...it's the adrenaline rush and the heightened senses. I think the more important thing is how their efficiency changes between the two factors. I weigh how much more or less tense and nervous a goalie plays when he sees five or six shots a period compared to 12-15. That "amount" is how I discern whether or not it should be a legit knock against the goalie. In Fleury's case, I'd say the more he plays, the closer he's getting to mastering the "more shots vs. less shots" factor. - GoalieGuild Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:51:46 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/2144-mason-vs-fleury-vs-ward#comment-582 Interesting fact: Fleury and Ward have the most postseason starts of all goalies since the lockout -- 49 and 41 respectively. I think that actually shows that the experience gap between Fleury and Ward is closer than one might think. I think I probably agree that Ward gets the edge, but, its very close between he and MAF. Ward's the steadier guy. p.s. I also really like your observation that Fleury needs to see a lot of the puck to be at his best. Do you feel this is ever a criticism of a goalie? I have been saying for quite a while among friends that the Pens dominance of Washington five-on-five played into Fleury's few shaky games in that series. It'd obviously be better if he were sharp at all times, but, other's have suggested that its just simply unacceptable. I'm curious, as a goalie guy, how much rope a guy should be given on the idea that he needs to see a good bit of rubber to find his groove. - Kraftster Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:33:35 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/justin-goldman/2144-mason-vs-fleury-vs-ward#comment-581 Brilliant read. Another well put together article from the GoalieGuild. Excellent job! - beyondthewall19 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:53:11 +0100