Hockey Blog – BestGoaliePads.com

With the 2nd round of the 2010 NHL playoffs started, we here at Best Goalie Pads are going to give you a little insight into a series and how those goalies are performing in the playoffs. Right now we will talk about the Philadelphia Flyers’ Brian Boucher and Boston Bruins’ Tuukka Rask have done in the 1st round and in the 2 games of the 2nd round.

It’s been 10 years since Brian Boucher has led the Flyers through the Playoffs.  In 2000 we led them against the New Jersey Devils and lost the series.  Oddly enough in 2010 he and the Flyers went up against the Devils but erased those memories of 10 years ago by knocking out the Devils in the 1st round.  Boucher started the season off as the backup to Ray Emery but with injuries to Emery, Boucher was handed the job but failed to secure it.  He was once again the backup until Michael Leighton was injured and Boucher was forced to prove himself once again.

In the Flyers 8 games of the playoffs, Boucher has performed like it was 2000 all over again.  He helped the Flyers defeat the Devils in 5 games and even with the Flyers being down 2-0 in their series with the Boston Bruins, he has played incredible. Currently he has a Save Percentage of .923, which is 4th best in the Playoffs. Also he has a Goals Against Average of 2.21, which is currently 2nd best of all the goalie in the Playoffs.  These stats are give an idea how he has performed and helped give the Flyers a chance to win in each game.  Expect to see Boucher make the Bruins work even harder for the series win.

On the other side of this match up is Tuukka Rask.  Rask like Boucher was also designated as the Bruins backup to Tim Thomas.  Rask took over after Thomas was not performance in net was good enough to keep the bruins playoff bound.  Rask played out of his mind hockey which led the Bruins to the 6th seed in the playoffs.  Currently going into the 3rd game again the Flyers he has a save percentage of .889, which is 15th for all goalies in the playoffs. Also his Goal Against Average is 2.80, which currently is 11th in the Playoffs. His number haven’t been the best so far but Rask has been outstanding in between the pipes.  Numbers don’t always tell the story.  In the 2nd round Rask like Boucher has kept his team in games by standing on his head and making huge saves when needed.

Games 3 of the series is scheduled for 7 pm tonight on the Versus Network. Boston leads the series 2-0 after 2 games in Boston and the next 2 games are in Philadelphia.

For two week in February, NHL fans were treated to a different type of all-star break.  We saw NHL players take time off from their team and watched them play for pride of their respective countries.  When the two weeks were up and the dust settled, Team Canada beat Team U.S.A. in OT to win the Men’s Winter Ice Hockey Gold Medal.  This was a win/win situation in the ratings department for the Olympics and the NHL.

Prior to the Olympics the NHL hosted the 3rd Winter Classic in Boston.  This game was a huge ratings boost for the NHL. It featured the Boston Bruins and the love to hate Philadelphia Flyers.  This game is a huge draw for casual fans and normal TV watchers. The Olympics was a whole new story for drawing interest in the league.  Now it’s time for the NHL to run with the successful rating for both events and promote the hell out of the 2010 NHL Playoffs and try to grab a whole new fan base.

Normally the playoffs are a huge deal for the existing fans and their teams but after the successful Olympics the NHL has a lot riding on them.  Already with the first 28 games played, the 16 teams in the playoffs are going to give the Olympics a run for their money.  They have been the most competitive the playoffs have been in the longest time. They have been fast paced, hard hitting and in some cases high scoring.  Even with the high scoring games have produced close 1 goal wins.  Already there have been 8 OT games that leaves old fans and new fans on the edge of their seats to see who will score the game winner.  Also for the first time in NHL history each series was tied 1-1 after two games.

If the games aren’t enough, the players in the games will be a huge draw. Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Ryan Miller, Roberto Luongo and the other superstars of the NHL along with teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers will help promote the game to non fans that are looking for a new sport to follow.  If the NHL promotes it right and shows the right match ups on NBC and VS, they stand to see an increase in fans for the league and at least the 16 teams in the playoffs, if not the team that is close to where they are living..

The 2010 Playoffs are a make it/break it for Gary Bettman as Commissioner of the NHL.  A lot of fans of the NHL don’t like him already but if for some reason the NHL doesn’t draw in a large amount of new fans, the dislike for him will not only be from the fans but possibly the owners of the 30 NHL teams.    The players are doing their jobs and the owners are promoting and selling their teams but it all comes down on Bettman if it fails to be a huge draw.  The next attempt to draw in a large amount of fans is in another 4 years after the Olympics in Russia, providing Bettman allows NHL players to participate in those Olympics.

Let me be the first to Welcome you to the Best Goalie Pads Hockey Blog.  We felt that we wanted to bring hockey fans a little bit more than great discounts on goalie pads.  As hockey ourselves, we want to let you know how we feel about what’s going on in the NHL.  This means we could talk about some of great plays each week, fights, issues with the officials, teams, trades or whatever else comes along during the regular hockey season, playoffs and even during the off season.