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Stanley Stick preview: Goaltender consistency is key

The Sunday Morning Road Hockey season is finally underway. Too bad the two-game Stanley Stick finale begins next week.

In a year of unexpected retirements, lackluster attendance and goalie challenges that scuttled more games than ever before, Sunday's intense, hard-fought regular season finale served as a bit of an appetizer for the feisty feast to come. It also gave the roadsters a glimpse at the keys to Stanley Stick success.

Making his first start between the pipes in three weeks, Twizzler's got stronger and more impenetrable as the game wore on. But some defensive lapses and wavering concentration at key moments cost his side, as they squandered a mid-game comeback to lose a 20-17 heartbreaker.

At the other end, Nibs atoned for his unexplained absences the past month by playing a steady stand-up game in his first goaltending start since November. Time and again he stifled scoring opportunities by renowned snipers like Lak Attack and the Colonel to give his team the chance to win.

In this season of unrest and disinterest, it's going to be the goalies who could be the difference-makers as players pay for the sins of their sloth with waning fitness and suspect timing.

"A hot goalie can make all the difference," said Unabomber, whose tardy appearance at the court was just enough to earn him eligibility for the championship showdown series. "Some of the guys aren't in the shape they're used to being in at this time of the season, the timing is off a little bit, so it brings some wild card factors."

"Goaltending is usually the deciding factor," said Doo.

"It's all about goaltending," said Scooby. "It that goalie isn't saving shots at the end of the game, it just kills you."

Of course, just who those goaltenders will be is as mysterious as the reasons behind this season's struggles. Sophomore shotstopper Twizzler has been a stalwart, but he missed the past two weeks nursing an ankle injury. Sunday, he struggled early but once he regained his feel for the crease, he came up with some huge saves that allowed his team to climb back into the game and take their first lead at 10-9.

"Twizzler was playing like an all-star today," said Unabomber. "Our team had a decided advantage in scoring opportunities and he kept them in it. Sometimes that's all it can take."

At the other end, Nibs made some key saves but he's unlikely to play next week, as regular rearguard Gump is expected to take his position between the pipes. But Gump's attendance has been inconsistent, and coming off another off week, he could have trouble early as he regains his goaltending legs.

In fact, a number of players could find themselves lagging in the intense atmosphere of the Stick when competitive desire can pay dividends on the scoresheet.

"I think it will be obvious who's been here all season preparing and who hasn't," said Doo.

"I think even today the fitness level of some of the players was showing towards the end of the game," said Scooby. "A couple of guys who haven't been around may end up hurting their teams a bit."

Lak Attack announced at the end of Sunday's regular season finale that he will be unavailable for the Stanley Stick championship series. Another player not expected to start is Cowboy Bill, whose Sunday Morning Road Hockey career came to an ignominious conclusion last week as he left in disgust rather than play a modified half-court game; he's retiring to move to a far-away country.

Paul One was an unexpected starter in Sunday's game. The veteran forward made only his second start of the season and is ineligible for the Stanley Stick. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in February.

Another veteran who is ineligible for post-season play, Elvis, will see his career-long streak of Stanley Stick championships ended at eight, the most ever for a roadster. He played one exhibition game, and the special Hall of Fame Game in February, as he elected to sit out most of the season because of the difficult conditions presented by the new, rougher surface at the hockey courts.

As always, the Stanley Stick teams will be decided by a card draw that is scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m. Any player who isn't present for the card draw will not be put on a team.

Posted by jaysuburb at April 18, 2010 09:30 PM