From: dan@vicorp.com (Dan Gauthier)
Subject: Re:  Moog "sucks"? (LONG)
Organization: V. I. Corporation, Northampton, Massachusetts
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 20:20:49 GMT

A "craigb" from "rpi" writes:  (lines shortened for easier reading...)

> Obviously you are no Bruin fan or hockey fan for that matter.
Ouch!!!  Sharp words.  I guess if 6 years of Bruins/Whalers season tickets
don't qualify me, you better tell me what would make me a "fan."  I play too,
in goal in fact, almost as good as Moog.  :-)

> If you were you would know that Moog has been one of the best
IMHO, the key words you write here are "has been."

> goalies for years. I will be the first on to admit 
> that Moog is not playing as he usually does. But saying the guy sucks come one.
I'm glad you admit he is not playing as he once did.  That's the first step.

> I think Sutter did the right thing when he sat Moog down. The coach has 
> to do what is best for the team. Expecting Moog to sit out the rest of
> the season is a bit far fetched in my mind. In time Moog will return to
Who said "sit him out the rest of the year?"  Stop putting words in my mouth.

> his old form. The way this season has gone for him he may not return to Moog
> like fashion untill next season. I just don't think it is 
> reason to say he sucks for having a bad year. By the end of this season
>  possibly next                 Moog will be a star again.
Wait... isn't that what we said LAST year?  Aside from some of the Buffalo
playoffs, most specifically game 7, he was not very good last year either.
In general, his problem was just not making the "big" saves anymore.
Last year, many of us thought it was possibly the distraction of being the
leader of the players union, and his woes would go away this year.

I'll watch Blue (average goalie) play any game this year, and (for example,
Montreal) in regulation the B's would be outshot 29-19, but the score is
2-2, and I ask myself, if Moog were in net, would it be 2-2.  Answer:  No.
Definately not.  Probably 4-2 Montreal.  And then, no one would blame him
because of all the great chances the "alamo defense" gave the Montreal offense.

It's time to take a hard look at the tell-tale numbers.  It's not easy to 
turn things on and off at will.  An .860 save percentage means for every 
30 shots (about average)  Moog lets in over 4 goals.  No shutouts.  Consider
that.  It sounds like you believe every word "Fred and Derek" feed you about
Moog's spectacular saves, while every other goalie looks "beatable and weak."
If you have the luxury of watching Bruins games with alternate announcers, 
like on SportsChannel or ESPN, you will here criticizms of Moog, as I have
this year on several occasions, the harshest was from former B's goalie
Gerry Cheevers.

If you want proof, look at any major hockey publications of "NHL's 10 top
ranked NHL goalies,"  I dare you to find one with Moog in it.  You won't.

Ok, saying he "sucks" is harsh.  My news feed was down and I was trying to
get mail, I thought it would generate lots of discussion, and many flames,
but to my surprise, I got 5 responses, and you were the ONLY one who didn't
agree with me, although I'm sure there are more who didn't write.

The arguments I've heard against Blue are silly, if you think about them...
Specifically, people think his "flopping" style is great for stopping the
first and/or second shots, but if anyone ever gets a third shot on him, he
will be dead meat.  Well folks, fact is, you often don't get a third shot, 
and Moog doesn't have that happen to him because too often he lets in that
first or second shot that Blue has been stopping.  No wonder Derek is always
saying "The Bruins have a habit of making opposing goalies look like Vezina
candidates."  Part of that is because Moog is his normal basis for comparison!
I know another part of it is quality of shots.

I'll take back "sucks" if you will give me that he is the "source" of some
of the Bruins problems.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if Tugnut or some other
better 2nd string goalie is traded for, and becomes the guy the Bruins 
"protect" after playoff time.  All just my opinion.  Hope you all enjoyed
having something to read.

I won't answer any more flames on the mailing list, so please limit them to
e-mail only.

Here's hoping Teemu get's shut down tonight, and Juneau has a career day.

Go Bruins!

Dan Gauthier, Bruins/Hockey FAN.

Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey