Jonathan Willis wrote:

@ Ivy.eyez88: If you look at a Stanley Cup winning team, everybody looks good. Winning does that. Fleury played very well. He got some crossbar luck but the fact is that he played very well. That said, so did Jonas Hiller. You don’t win the Cup without all cylinders firing, and the strength in Pittsburgh - without question - is their top three centres.

If anyone knows where I can get a jpeg of the overhead shot of Fleury patting the crossbar I'd be very grateful.

@ jeanshorts: jeanshorts wrote:

@ Chris: And Fluery was lights out games 6 and 7 after shaky/mediocre play throughout most of the playoffs.

Throughout most of the playoffs?

Can't agree there. Toe save on Carter? Breakaway save on Ovechkin? All four games vs Carolina? Games 3 and 4 vs Detroit?

I'd say Fleury was lights out whenever he had to be, which to me is the definition of a playoff goalie.

What interests me on goaltending is how many times I heard some variation on "Osgood just knows how to win in the playoffs."

Gary Bellman wrote:

What interests me on goaltending is how many times I heard some variation on “Osgood just knows how to win in the playoffs.”

Heck, so do I. Play for Detroit ;)

Gary Bellman wrote:

@ Jonathan Willis: Of course Max Talbot is a centre too. I’d be very interested to see your column entitled something like: “A Recipe For A Cup Winning Run”. My list would include (but not be limited to): -strength down the centre -timely goaltending -health/injuries -depth -bounces -matchups -youth/experience How about yours? (Love the “Pretend your mom…” suggestion — same as mine on my blog, so that’s no surprise, I guess.)

It's hard to put a generic list together since there are so many ways to get things done.

Good goaltending is essential, obviously, as are at least two functional scoring lines and a third line that can at least play shutdown if they don't contribute defensively.

But the way to get it differs from team to team.