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During the last playoff in 2004, we were impressed by Esche who along with a possessed Keith Primeau took us to the brink of the Stanley Cop Finals. Watching Esche against the Islanders on Sunday, reminded me of just how good he can be. The Flyers were outplayed, took stupid penalties and were outshot but won the game easily 4-1 because Robert Esche, repeatedly kept them in the game. During the playoffs in 2004, he had a .918 save percentage and a 2.31 goals against. Although that isn't the greatest, it seemed that the fear of the soft goals which have haunted the Flyers, year after year was gone. I would be happy to enter the playoffs with Esche in the net.
However, we have a goal tender that is really special. He is totally under-rated but has the make up and talent to be the difference-maker the way Brodeur is a difference maker with the NJ Devils. Nittymaki has repeatedly risen to the competition. In 2004's Calder Cup he had a 1.8 goals against, in 2005's Calder Cup he had a 1.74 goals against, 3 shutouts and a .943 save percentage. Further, he was the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoff and his team won. This year he got hoy when Esche went down and the Flyers had their best road trip ever, yes ever in the history of the team. Then he headed off to the Olympics in Turin and led Team Finland to the Silver medal. Nitty wasn't even selected for the team initially and the team was never supposed to even get to the semi-final much less almost take the Gold medal. Once again, Nittymaki was the MVP.
Nitty has never choked when it matters (Juniors, 2 Calder Cup playoff rounds and the Olympics) rather he has repeatedly been one of the best, if not the best player. I'm excited to see what he'll do in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Fans worry about our power play, or if our team is fast enough but remember teams that win the Stanley Cup are usually led by hot goalies. If Nitty gets hot, he can carry the team into the Finals and maybe deliver our first Stanley Cup in 30 years...
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