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Quick vs. LaBarbera [UPDATE post-Thrashing]

[UPDATE: after last night’s 7-0 fun fest, I thought I would revisit Q’s numbers to see where he stands vis-a-vis LaBarbera. The post has been altered accordingly:]

Halfway through Quick’s next game, he will have played exactly the same number of minutes LaBarbera played for the Kings last season. Q has now played about a game’s worth of minutes more than JLB did for us last season. How do they compare?

LaBarbera:

995 minutes / 2.83GAA / .893 SV% / 2 shut outs / 47 goals allowed

Quick:

966 minutes / 2.61GAA / .900 SV% / 0 shut outs / 42 goals allowed.

1061 minutes / 2.77GAA / .894 SV% / 0 shut-outs / 49 goals allowed.

Some other observations: LaBarbera allowed four or more goals in four games, 4, 6, 4, 4, all losses. Quick has allowed four or more five six times, 6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 (plus 3 in the Atlanta game in 35 minutes) but the Kings won two of those games. As noted above, JLB had two shut outs to Quick’s zero. JLB allowed only one goal in two complete games and twice when coming in relief of EE. Quick has allowed only one goal five times, all complete games. JLB was pulled three times. Quick has never been pulled has been pulled once. Shots against are roughly even: JLB faced 439 shots; Quick has faced 464.

Conclusion: I instinctively believe Quick to be far superior to JLB. The numbers, however, aren’t persuasively on my side. Quick’s numbers are slightly better overall. I made the observation on a message board that if Quick had let in one fewer goal in each of his games, his numbers would be best in the league (this was in response to the comment that there have been goals in every game that Quick would like to “have back”). The point being, I don’t think it’s realistic or fair to expect him (or anyone) never to let in a soft goal. But I do think it’s reasonable for him to cut down on the number of unforced errors leading to goals. Maybe by half. That would be consistent with our expectations of him in comparison to the often-maligned JLB.

[UPDATE: since the original post, he’s let in seven goals in a game and a half. Going, as they say, in the wrong direction.]

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