by Ryan Foley

Created on: November 28, 2008

Backup goalies have been a pertinent key to success, especially in playoff runs. However, is there enough attention paid to them during the course of a season? Right now there are a few frontrunners who could take the title of most valuable backup for the 2008-2009 season.

Hailing from Syracuse, it would be criminal for me to leave out the recently called up Steve Mason to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a brief stint in the AHL on the Syracuse Crunch but was able to rack up stats of .937 save percentage and a 1.37 GAA during his tenure. Now having already played six games in the NHL, the twenty year-old Mason looks poised to continue his tenacious guard of the net. He currently has a 2.39 Goals Against Average and is at an over .900 save percentage. It would not surprise me if within the next few seasons, Leclaire has some competition for starting position.

Though the Kings have a record of 1-3-1 in the last five games, Erik Ersberg is still a stellar keeper. These last five games have seen him struggle however in nine games thus far during the season, only 25 goals have been scored against him which is quite respectable. Again, another variable which skews his statistics and overall play must be attributed to the weak defense provided by the Kings around the goal.

At 277 shots against and 252 saves, another formidable contender for this label would be Brent Johnson with the Washington Capitals. In the midst of the controversy with Coach Boudreau stating that "Jose Theodore is still the starter" (that may have to be taken with a grain of salt) and invoking a game time decision before the Capitals hit the ice. The thirty-one year old Johnson has proved to be quite a scrapper. He has a .910 save percentage but who knows if he'll be the goaltender for next game after giving up seven goals to the San Jose Sharks?

The aforementioned keepers will be fun and exciting to watch while in front of the net, but by far the number one prospect to substitute for your starting goalie would be Alex Auld in Ottawa. While the Senator's scoring remains a problem-considering they cannot seem to muster enough will to score on opportunities presented unless it is a powerplay-the one constant has been their goalkeeping. With (Martin) Gerber out, Auld has proven to be extremely effective in his play also. What is even more surprising is before the commencement of the season, critics were claiming the one element on the team which would have to be worked on diligently was, goalkeeping. Auld at this point, is defying those naysayers.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Foley.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.