Men of Steals

Some hockey purists might resist advanced analytics while other fans and general managers seek out all plausible data points. Yay or nay on the sport's statistical revolution, everyone from fans to coaches and general managers to quantitative analysts themselves tend to agree on this qualitative statement: A hot goalie can 'steal' games or even a series during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The start to this month's playoffs is proof whether your stats are old-school or next-gen:

While the numbers haven't lied yet or even belied during an exciting first round, the rise of so many younger, poised goaltenders requires words to help explain a group that includes Jack Campbell (Toronto), rookie Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina, drafted in 2014, 37th overall, by former GM Ron Francis) and 20-year-old Spencer Knight (Florida) winning big postseason games for their clubs when it was expected veteran starters would be manning the net. Campbell and Nedeljkovic still have first-round games to win while Knight forced a Game 6 (ultimately a loss to defending Cup champ Tampa Bay) with a playoffs debut win that will no doubt be the first of many.
In Nashville, Juuse Saros has embraced the changing of the net guard with long-time star Pekke Rinne (retiring this summer) serving as backup in a surprisingly even series with Carolina and Nedeljkovic. Carolina is up 3-2 with Game 6 Thursday in Nashville. The last three games have been one-goal games. Saros has given up the projected 16 goals in those five games but has also faced an average of 47 shots per game, including one overtime win that featured 60-plus shots on goal.
"These younger goalies are working earlier on strength training and conditioning, focusing on their footwork and getting more individual coaching [both physical and mental] than ever before," says Andrew Allen, former NHL goalie, goalie coach and now pro scout for the Kraken. "They are way more the complete package and are confident in their abilities."
Campbell has paced Toronto to a 3-1 lead in the retro-classic series with its Canadian Original Six counterpart Montreal, coming into his own after uneven play in the first few pro seasons after being drafted in the first round by the Dallas Stars in 2010.

Campbell and the younger hot goalies are showing the winning poise of veterans such as Rask, Cup champ Andrei Vasilevsky (Tampa Bay), Marc-Andre Fleury (Vegas) and Cam Talbot (Minnesota) -- the latter two heading to a Game 7 showdown Friday. Just how is that happening
Talking about all goalies who get hot (or "in the zone"), Allen offered his perspective to the question.
"The base of goaltending is the feet," says Allen. "We talk about evaluating players' skating ability and we do the same with goaltenders. It's more than stopping the puck. The footwork has to be there-changing direction, edge control, athleticism."
Edge control for goalies means learning to work the inside edges of the skates, while forwards and defenders work both the inside and outside edges. Goalies work during off-seasons and practices to master control of the inside edges, which leads to keeping the feet in balance.

With that balance, goaltenders are more relaxed and able to put their natural physical talents and hockey IQ into action. The goalie can get into position to make the save and even "beat the passes" by anticipating whether the puck is heading toward the goal or an opponent's teammate.
"The second part of it is moving out of the save, staying balanced to be ready for any rebound," says Allen. "In order to be an elite goalie, you need to be consistent, game in, game out. The more consistent the footwork, the better the goalie."
As fans watch the upcoming Game 7s and elimination games, we can watch for goalies who stay in position for those second and third chances during a scoring attempt. Campbell, for one, has made a number of such multiple stops without extraneous movement. There will be plenty such examples by the goalies with teams advancing to the second round this weekend. Their hours and days of edge control drills and anticipating shots and passes during practices will pay off.
"The goalie who is prepared can naturally find that inner focus [on moving in and out of saves]," says Allen. "The less a goalie thinks in pressure situations, the better."