Gurglesons
Registered User
I actually think that's a detriment rather than a positive. In the RS when everyone is getting games (46/43) it's a great thing to have. But in the POs when you're playing, having a backup who's posted numbers like that could very easily lead to the coach pulling you in favor of him, which could very easily lead to neither guy getting into a rhythm. The POs are just a different beast where everything is heightened and the games are a lot more important, and thus there's a lot more pressure on everyone.
Don't get me wrong - I'd rather have a backup with a .930 svg% vs a .900, but I think giving one team the advantage over the other because of a .927 vs .916 is meaningless. Only one guy is playing nightly, and thus the importance of having a great backup is significantly less than say having a great 2/3C or 2/3D, etc. And I certainly wouldn't be using it to show why team A has an advantage in net over team B.
Edit. I see @Peat beat me to it.
People writing about this series are just trying to make it interesting. This should be an easy Pens win and if it isn’t then it is the Pens as always shooting themselves in the foot and one of Lehner or Greiss shutting the door.