Some Surprising Goalies

Goaltending is a position that can have a tremendous effect on a team.  A team with a top goalie can significantly exceed expectations.  Likewise, a team with poor goaltending will fail to live up to expectation.  Short term predictions based on goaltending are hard because it is a very streaky position.  It is not uncommon for a goalie who has not had much recent success to suddenly have a very hot streak and become nearly unbeatable and it is not uncommon for a top goalie to have a cold streak. Two goalies who were largely overlooked in the free agent market who are off to good starts this year are Antero Niittymaki of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Andrew Raycroft of the Vancouver Canucks.