The Stalock vs. Niemi Conundrum

Anthony Lancione

2014-11-14

AnttiNiemi

Taking a closer look at the Stalock/Niemi situation in San Jose…

By now, you're all aware of Alex Stalock being placed on Injured Reserve Tuesday at the most literal interpretation of game time possible; being listed as the projected starter right up to the minutes before puck drop by popular Starting Goalie Projection websites such as www.goaliepost.com. They can't get them bang-on 100% of the time. Coach McClellan said Stalock was good to start right up until game time, but then was suddenly no longer good to go.

So let's give our pals at GP a pat on the back for being correct (and honest) right up until the game was basically underway. They kept their projection live as is, whereas a competitor stealthily adjusted their 'Projected Starter' to Antti Niemi 'after' the game already began, as if to prove they caught wind of the news ahead of time. Anyway, I digress.

SV%

PIM

ANTTI NIEMI

305

3.74

164

.884

ALEX STALOCK

117

2.05

.929

Convinced yet who the better keeper is? Both were under insane pressure not to blow this thing, however it was Stalock who shone when given opportunities (two in relief and one started). In fact, it wasn't even close as Stalock's sharp 2.05 GAA and .929% Save Percentage in the series (his NHL postseason debut) was stellar by comparison to Niemi's 3.74 and .884% clips respectively. Literally 1.69 goals per game LESS were allowed by Stalock under a high pressure situation- by a youngster no less.

Still feel it's too small a sample size. Ok- Not a problem, check out the extrapolation of the full season comparison last year via the Compare-A-Goalie Frozen Pools Tool. (Just the essential stats will be zoomed in on this time)

2013-2014 San Jose Sharks Head-to-head Goaltending Battle Summary

Name	ALEX STALOCK	ANTTI NIEMI
Position	G	G
Team	S.J	S.J
Age	26	30
2014-2015 Salary	$1500000	$4000000
2014-2015 Cap Hit	$1600000	$3800000
Games	24	64
Shutouts	2	4
Goals Against Avg	1.87	2.39
Save Percentage	0.932	0.913

Once again, round 10-9 in favour of Stalock! More than half a goal less allowed per game and with a .932% to .913% advantage in save percentage over the veteran by the up and comer. Stalock recorded only half the number of shutouts in nearly a third of the games played.

More telling is the fact that Stalock only started 18 games, six times having to come in for relief for Niemi; Hence never being able to achieve shutouts in those games. So technicaly Stalock produced half the shutouts in just 28% of the games started. That also shows that Stalock was never pulled in favor of Niemi all season.

It appears this article has evolved into a Cage Match of sorts, with a Frozen Pool – style analytical approach. The proof is in the pudding – Only a matter of time Stalock owners, before Stalock is back in action and logging of enough games where the gap between the two continues to widen to the point it did in last year's regular season as well as playoffs, forcing a shift in the Sharks' starting crease role.

(Give Anthony Lancione a follow on Twitter @Anthisdaman)

Forensics: Kris Versteeg
Forensics: Ryan Suter
Forensics: Tanner Pearson

UPCOMING GAMES

Apr 11 - 19:04	N.J	vs	PIT
Apr 11 - 19:04	OTT	vs	MTL
Apr 11 - 19:04	T.B	vs	DET
Apr 11 - 21:04	EDM	vs	S.J
Apr 11 - 22:04	CGY	vs	MIN