Eastern Conference goaltenders

Ranking the playoff goaltenders in the East…

1. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh. Let’s see, he’s played in the Stanley Cup Final each of the last two seasons and won it last year. Hands down the leader on this list as no one else in recent seasons has performed as well in high-pressure games.

2. Ryan Miller, Buffalo. The best in the NHL this season, he should win the Vezina Trophy, and showed his big-game ability in the Vancouver Olympics. The only thing lacking from his resume is a Stanley Cup.

3. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey. Once a playoff legend, it must be said that Brodeur hasn’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since winning the Stanley Cup in 2003. He’s on his way to the Hall of Fame and is a legendary but he hasn’t elevated his play in the big games in recent years. Really, since Scott Stevens retired and Scott Niedermayer moved on. Funny how a goaltender’s ability to win big games drops after losing two Hall of Fame defesemen. Collapse versus Carolina in Game 7 last season cannot be ignored.

4. Jaroslav Halak, Montreal. Had a very strong season for the Canadiens, especially after the Olympics in which he played really well for Slovakia. He held the Slovaks in some games they had no business winning. The Canadiens were clearly a better team when he played as opposed to Carey Price and he could potentially steal some games for the Canadiens. He better be on his game because he will be facing Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals when the playoffs start.

5. Tuukka Rask, Boston. Stole the job from reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas during the regular season and one cannot help but think Thomas could reclaim it in the postseason if Rask gets off to a shaky start. That being said, Rask had a great season for a Bruins team that had little room for error due a depleted offense that was nowhere near as effective as it was in front of Thomas last season (due to personnel losses and injuries). He could be both a Vezina and Calder finalist. He has never made a playoff start.

6. Brian Elliott, Ottawa. Gave the Senators some much needed stability in goal after a few years of major uncertainty. In fact, one could legitimately argue that Elliott just delivered Ottawa their best ever goaltending season. He has never made a playoff start.

7. Jose Theodore/Semyon Varlamov, Washington. You tell me who the man is going to be in the playoffs (and I don’t care who Bruce Boudreau declares his starter). Theodore, who won the Hart Trophy in 2002, was benched last spring and Varlamov played admirably until melting down in Game 7 against Pittsburgh. Theodore has dominated the Penguins for years, which must be acknowledged.

8. Brian Boucher, Philadelphia. I cannot remember the last time the Flyers went into the postseason with goaltending not being a big question mark. That is no different this season, although Boucher should be riding an emotional high after beating the great Henrik Lundqvist in a shootout to get the Flyers into the playoffs. Boucher had a very strong postseason in 2000, unexpectedly. A strong postseason this season would be unexpected as well.