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Rejoint: mars 2017
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As a Lightning fan:
Carolina is our biggest threat in the Central Division, without a doubt. Trocheck, Aho, Svechnikov, and (to my surprise) Jordan Staal are tearing it up. Nino Niederreiter has already matched his goals total from last season. Carolina and Tampa Bay are, as of when I'm writing this, 2nd and 3rd in goals for at 88 and 87 respectively. The Lightning have played one less game though. Both teams are clearly doing well offensively. Tampa Bay is 2nd in goals allowed with 51, while Carolina is 8th with 66. I realize that goals allowed isn't the be-all-end-all when it comes to evaluating defense, but it helps. I think it's fair to say that both the Lightning and Hurricanes have two of the best blue lines in the league, at least on paper.
The glaring difference between these two teams lies in goal.
Hurricanes fans have been quick to point out how well Mrazek was playing this year before he got hurt. And I understand why they're excited - Carolina hasn't had a good goalie in years. But I don't buy the hype around him. He's faced 63 shots this season, and 31 of them were against Detroit. Credit where it's due, he had a shutout against the Lightning and a shutout against the Red Wings. However, I don't think it's realistic to say he's going to be anything too special this year. In seasons where he's appeared in 10 games or more, he's finished above .920 once.
James Reimer can win games, but I see it more as the offense carrying him.
In all the games Reimer has gotten the W for so far this season, here's how many goals Carolina has scored:
3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 7, 5, 4, 4, 4.
And when he's lost?
4, 2, 1.
Carolina has the offense and the defense to hang with the best in the NHL. But they will not get past Tampa Bay or any other contender with a goaltending tandem of Mrazek and Reimer.