Saves of the week 11/24 - too much details

10 - Kiprusoff vs McCormick
This save looks easier than it was. Wraparounds with traffic in front are always difficult as the goalie must not only hugh his post and cover the angle but also keep track of who is where close by... so a good first save then a quick rebound shot stopped by a great leg extension in perfect position. Nevermind throwing yourself across! Just extend and stay ready for any possible rebound.

9 - MacDonald vs Langenbrunner
This kid is making Dipietro irrelevant on Long Island... in every aspect except salary of course. His technique is excellent and while he needs to work on rebound control, his skills keep him ahead. This play is a great example: the first save from the point through traffic was already pretty good but he immediately gets back up and ready (the sign of a goalie used to seeing lots of rubber and not having his dmen handle rebounds maybe?), a great top corner shot from the slot suddenly becomes almost an easy showoff glove save.

8 - Tellqvist vs Richards
It was a nice lateral movement from the goalie but really, I'm not even sure that puck was going in! Look at the angle, it was going somwhere near the opposite post... Richards choked on the perfect pass from the point and an empty net.

7 - Boucher vs Koistinen
Now this is a good redirect into an empty net! That puck was on the Preds' stick for a fraction of a second and it was going straight in brushing the post... but the NHL record holder for consecutive shutout minutes had other ideas and did a nice controlled slide stopped gently by the post, his pads in perfect position and denying a certain goal. Look how straight up he ends up too, ready for any possible rebound.

6 - Budaj vs Glencross
This is only here because Budaj fundled the bouncy first shot as the 2nd save was jsut a spread eagle desperation sprawl that would have went in with a more patient shooter. There isn't much that can be taught or practiced about those bouncy pucks... They flip, bounce, change directions, slow and speed up randomly... All you can do is expect the weirdest bounce and stay ready for the rebound to go far away.

5 - Price vs Babchuk
Like the announcers said, somebody else than the sneaking-behind-coverage dman might have slapped this top corner but it doesn't take anything away from the nice save from the young kid. Check how he does that lateral move: a very gentle controlled push... he isn't shoving himself across the crease; he just gives himself some momentum and the leg extension does the rest. What this gives you as a much more straight position with your arms in position to grab the puck and your center of gravity still close to the middle so that you can get back in stance for any possible rebounds (unless your dman shoves the dude on you of course!). Good technique does not always look spectacular but the results are really what matters

4 - Kolzig vs Zajac
Long strong arms will allow you to use a paddle like this and make some great saves right there on the red line.

3 - Clemmensen vs Folik
The save was awesome but made this such a great stop? It was his bundling of the wraparound! There are two dmen around the guy, no other Panthers anywhere close yet the goalie decides to go down on one knee and stick his paddle down on the ice... that put him completely out of position and compromised against the post. Only the fact Frolik was way out there in the faceoff circle gave enough time for Clemmensen to get back up and stick out his hand.

2 - MacDonald vs Parise
5-on-3s are impossible. The offense can have an open player on both sides of the net at the same time. The only thing left is to play it deep in your crease and only come out when the threat level rise up... and even then, you cant go too far as you wont be able to cover the other side. MacDonald just stretched enough to make a great save

1 - Luongo vs Redden
Luongo plays an extremely aggressive game, stepping out of his crease all the time and only his strong technique, long limbs and refusal to give up allow him to make such saves.