Sabres,Oilers,and your goaltenders

Lots of freezing rain this morning made travel very treacherous for much of the North East. There is snow expected for tomorrow with lows around 18f’. I’m sure this would be considered a mild day in Edmonton. This brings me to a prediction my friend in Alberta “AA” made early in the season as I was pointing out the Sabres strong start. I have never known such a die hard Oilers fan. He was pretty sure they’d take game 7 last year also. Here on the east coast New Jersey has a strong following in the US while you don’t have to look far to hear an opinion about Montreal and the Leafs. I myself have been a Rangers fan through the thick and thin. My only big exception was during the Orr years in Boston. I have been watching the Sabres for many years and am a big fan of Lindy Ruff. (Former Sabre and NY Ranger). You got give credit where credit is due. The goal tending for Buffalo has been outstanding this season. Ryan Miller just made 35 saves against Boston, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Bruins from taking the game.
Looking over at the Oilers, I think our friend up north must be a bit frustrated – especially with another loss to Calgary. Back to Buffalo now. Having a great goaltender makes a huge impact on how offensively a team plays. Patrick Roy used to have that kind of presence with Colorado. At the minor league level you need to
develop your goaltenders to be the last line of defense. Unfortunately many teams do not have the availability of a dedicated goaltending coach to work with the goalies like they do in the NHL and college teams. Coaches try to work them into drills and regular practice, but goalies need time to work on their total game with someone who can provide a focused practice tailored to the goalie. Bringing a higher level goalie from your own association or High School team to help work with younger players can make a definite impact on the development of your goalie. Goaltending coaches who know the position well are hard to find in some areas, but there are often certified USA coaches from other levels who may be able to help out by working with your goalies. Remember, make the most of what is available.