Re: Under pressure: A goaltending BAP (NHL 09)
The Aeros had come into the game with a vengeance. Losing in a shootout is not something that was easily tolerated by their young starting goaltender, and the rest of the team fed off that frustration. After allowing six shots in a row on Gordon, the Aeros lit up. Four shots were fired at Wilkes Barre-Scranton's goaltender, Brown. The fifth would be the lucky one. Olvecky's monster slapshot deflected off of Ardelan, the Penguins' defenseman. Brown went down two feet out of his crease, but the puck was no longer in sight. The lucky deflection had whizzed right over to Kalus' stick, and he rocketed the shot into the empty net.
By the end, Gordon was riding an emotional high. Seven straight periods without allowing a goal is nothing to be scoffed at. He had faced 9 shots to his team's 6, but they had the scoreboard advantage.
Goal! The one timer had been executed perfectly, and Brown went down early confused. Cal Clutterbuck had scored his first of the year. Everything was going Houston's way now, and it looked like Gordon was well on his way to whitewashing another opponent. But, the game was still in the second period. Getting back his focus, he hunkered down in his crease and waited for the play to finally come the other way again.
As he did so, thwarting yet another shot from the slot, a big hit was delivered on behalf of an upset Aeros defenseman, and play returned to the WBS end yet again. The third goal of the night was scored as Weller lost the puck through the crease, and then regained it just before Brown could cover up. He fired it past a flailing goaltender, and gave Houston a commanding lead.
Two periods complete, and the Aeros were absolutely dominating. Gordon was playing like the second round goalie he should have been, and the Minnesota Wild, or at least the Houston Aeros, appreciated the steal of a draft pick.
But the Baby Pens were turning up the heat. 17 shots had been fired on net as the third period was half over, and momentum was building up. Gordon scrambled to get back into position as a deflected shot clanked off the post, but there was no damage done, as the puck just wasn't working in the Penguins' favor.
Finally, a goal had been scored. Gordon was caught leaning too far to one side, and after being pulled off the post, Letestu had scored with four minutes to go. Gordon's eight period shutout streak would not reach nine, but he didn't seem too bothered. In his eyes, the win was more important than the individual stats, and one goal in 18 shots isn't bad when the player in the crease across from him had let in three with just as many shots on net.
But the Penguins weren't done yet. A sickening defensive flaw left Gordon alone against a sniper, and he was promptly deked out of his crease and the puck found its home in the back of the net. WBS was rallying, feeling a sudden momentum shift, but it wouldn't be enough tonight. Madsen shot the puck into the empty net, and all hopes of coming back would be lost, and the Aeros notched the win 4-2.
BAP Stats:
Brendan Gordon ended the game with a 90.5% save percentage, and a 2.00 GAA. He faced 21 shots, and stopped 19 of them, but just about every save was highlight reel material.
The Aeros had come into the game with a vengeance. Losing in a shootout is not something that was easily tolerated by their young starting goaltender, and the rest of the team fed off that frustration. After allowing six shots in a row on Gordon, the Aeros lit up. Four shots were fired at Wilkes Barre-Scranton's goaltender, Brown. The fifth would be the lucky one. Olvecky's monster slapshot deflected off of Ardelan, the Penguins' defenseman. Brown went down two feet out of his crease, but the puck was no longer in sight. The lucky deflection had whizzed right over to Kalus' stick, and he rocketed the shot into the empty net.
By the end, Gordon was riding an emotional high. Seven straight periods without allowing a goal is nothing to be scoffed at. He had faced 9 shots to his team's 6, but they had the scoreboard advantage.
Goal! The one timer had been executed perfectly, and Brown went down early confused. Cal Clutterbuck had scored his first of the year. Everything was going Houston's way now, and it looked like Gordon was well on his way to whitewashing another opponent. But, the game was still in the second period. Getting back his focus, he hunkered down in his crease and waited for the play to finally come the other way again.
As he did so, thwarting yet another shot from the slot, a big hit was delivered on behalf of an upset Aeros defenseman, and play returned to the WBS end yet again. The third goal of the night was scored as Weller lost the puck through the crease, and then regained it just before Brown could cover up. He fired it past a flailing goaltender, and gave Houston a commanding lead.
Two periods complete, and the Aeros were absolutely dominating. Gordon was playing like the second round goalie he should have been, and the Minnesota Wild, or at least the Houston Aeros, appreciated the steal of a draft pick.
But the Baby Pens were turning up the heat. 17 shots had been fired on net as the third period was half over, and momentum was building up. Gordon scrambled to get back into position as a deflected shot clanked off the post, but there was no damage done, as the puck just wasn't working in the Penguins' favor.
Finally, a goal had been scored. Gordon was caught leaning too far to one side, and after being pulled off the post, Letestu had scored with four minutes to go. Gordon's eight period shutout streak would not reach nine, but he didn't seem too bothered. In his eyes, the win was more important than the individual stats, and one goal in 18 shots isn't bad when the player in the crease across from him had let in three with just as many shots on net.
But the Penguins weren't done yet. A sickening defensive flaw left Gordon alone against a sniper, and he was promptly deked out of his crease and the puck found its home in the back of the net. WBS was rallying, feeling a sudden momentum shift, but it wouldn't be enough tonight. Madsen shot the puck into the empty net, and all hopes of coming back would be lost, and the Aeros notched the win 4-2.
BAP Stats:
Brendan Gordon ended the game with a 90.5% save percentage, and a 2.00 GAA. He faced 21 shots, and stopped 19 of them, but just about every save was highlight reel material.
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