You pointed out something that I've been really curious about when I watch the Pens games: the team plays better in front of Murr (yay for the guy who's hockey name is Wall in French) and I was wondering if maybe this is why teams don't often have tandem starter goalies? We are lucky to have Flower and Murr who are both great in their own ways. I just wonder what makes for the difference in their plays before each goalie.
Oh wow this is old. Going back to the old messages.
I think it’s a difference in their playing styles. Flower is an athletic goalie, meaning he can quickly move into (sometimes outrageous) positions to block shots and is physically gifted enough to make saves in the blink of an eye. But this is also a style that’s somewhat…flaily? Lots of quick movements.
Muzz is a positional goalie, meaning he is good at positioning himself for incoming shots to be a spot to block them without flinging himself around. He is optically gifted and can anticipate where he needs to be. This is a style that’s more calm, and that’s how his teammates describe him on the ice…calm.
Not surprisingly these styles sort of reflect their off-ice personalities. Flower is bubbly and energetic, Muzz is deadpan and unflappable. I think the rest of the team is so fast and quick-responding that they respond well to a calm, decisive presence in the net. It may not even be conscious on their parts - probably isn’t.
There may also be a subconscious emotional component. Flower is so beloved by the team, and the prospect of losing him has been a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads all season, that when he’s in net they may be trying too hard to do well in front of him and it’s having the opposite effect. Not that they don’t care about playing well in front of Muzz, it’s just…less fraught.
