I just think 408 minutes on the bench for a goaltender is going to be a lot to overcome when they’re voting. I think Billy Smith was the only other Conn Smythe winner to see his backup take more than two decisions, but Melanson only played 19.6% of the Islanders’ minutes; Weekes played 27.5% of the Hurricanes’ minutes.
For example, Giguere may have lost a second Conn Smythe to a weakish Niedermayer run when Bryzgalov took 20.0% of the Ducks’ minutes in 2007. And that was with him taking over the net; Irbe lost the job by getting pulled in back-to-back games against New Jersey and didn’t regain it until the next round.
i get that, but i just think irbe was too good that year against the leafs. it was toronto's clearest path to the finals and he was going up against peak cujo, who himself had a really good series (1.60 GAA, .937 SV%) and just totally completely outshone him. irbe's 0.96 GAA and .962 SV% in a six game series were bonkers. three 2-1 OT wins and a shutout.
that roll he got on, starting with the OT win against montreal trailing 2-1 in the series, rattling off three straight, then the toronto series, was giguere-esque. and as jackslater notes, irbe was a likable guy. a small goalie who once quit the red army team when tanks invaded riga during the singing revolution and he already had a previous memorable halak-like performance against the red wings in 1994. he had a lot going for him, even given kevin weekes' three (very impressive) wins.
but really i think it's the leafs being the leafs that's the x factor. like, if irbe had his second and third rounds against, say, the islanders and tampa, then i'd agree that it would be easy for the voters to just look at the stats sheet and say, "well ronnie franchise scored the most points, so..." but as it stands, did francis even distinguish himself in any of the series?
