Giguere vs. Kiprusoff

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

The Wings have faced both in the playoffs.

The Wings have lost series to both the Flames and Ducks in the past, with both Kipper and Giguere being major forces in those series.

The Wings have beaten Kiprusoff tihs year, and hopefully will be able to do the same to Giguere this series.

Who do you think is the better 'tender, in terms of playing the Wings in the playoffs now/in the recent past, and overall?

This is a pretty tough decision, but I got to give the slightest of edges to Kiprusoff. He's just so consistent, fundamentally sound. This is taking absolutely nothing, zero away from Giguere though (spare the "big pads" jokes).

[Red Baron 0]

Kiprusoff.

[miksteri 55]

Ill go with Kipper, without him the flames wouldnt have been in the SC finals or in playoffs this year, AND

he also carried the low scoring finnish national team to the World Cup finals, those merits speak loud enough.

Note.. Flyers goalie Niittymäki is from the same goalie school so should wings take a closer look at Niittymäki who also

has carried finnish national team on his back to the medal games in hockey world championships.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Giggy is no joke though. He's a guy who really steps it up in the playoffs. The two goals we scored yesterday were flukey, and I have a feeling a lot of our goals will have to be that and/or Holmstrom getting in his grill.

[DraperFan MN 0]

As far as which one I think is the better goalie, you have to go with Kipper. This season, Kipper had no where near the blueline in front of him that JSG did, and take a look at the numbers:

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...layerId=8462147

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...layerId=8462044

JSG has a better GAA, but look at the difference in the amount of shots faced. Kipper faced almost a 50% increase in shots over JSG, and the save percentage is virtually identical. Then there is the amount of games played, 74 - 56 in favor of Kipper. With those numbers, my mind is made up on who the better goalie is....

As far as who I respect more. Hands down it is Kipper. I believe in 2003 JSG clearly went beyond good sportsmanship with his padding, and I believe he continues to push the limits. I would like to know if the NHL is monitoring him. I know he is a bigger guy, but he looks like a behemoth in net. He doesn't need those shoulder pads for protection, and I would like to know what he is using around his midsection.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I'll take Giguere just because any guy that has a mattress for pads should be able to stop anything near the net.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I personally don't think Giguere is that outstanding of a goalie. Hes a solid no.1, no more no less. I think he owes a lot of his good stats to his outstanding defense, who, for the most part, keep shots to the outside and apply good pressure. Giguere just swallows everything up from the perimeter.

[livediehockey80 0]

Kiprusoff is better than Giggy for a few reasons:

1. Calgary is a mediocre hockey team. Anaheim is loaded with serious All-Star caliber talent.

2. Compare the weak blue line defense of Calgary against the Norris Trophy studded veterans in Anaheim.

3. Related to Number 2 reason, Kipper has to face a gazillion shots every game while Giggy gets on average about 20 shots...hardly enough to work up a sweat.

4. Yeah, I won't let this go: Giggy has more body padding than Kiprusoff. However, because Giggy is puffed up, his reflexes and side-to-side reaction is slooower than Kipper's.

5. You can make an argument that Calgary is in a tougher division than Anaheim. Colorado and Vancouver were scoring machines during the regular season. Minnesota was no pushover either. Meanwhile, the Ducks only had real competition with the Sharks--and the Stars to a lesser extent. The LA Kings and Phoenix Coyotes were bigger cream puffs than the worst NW Division team--the Edmonton Oilers.

I would still rate Giguere as a top-tier goalie in the NHL right NOW. Better than Dom even.

[Echolalia 2,961]

I would still rate Giguere as a top-tier goalie in the NHL right NOW. Better than Dom even.

That is a pretty hefty statement

[Guest bullocks]

Kiprosuff, and its not even close.

[Guest Agalloch]

Kiprusoff plays with a bad defense/team in front of him, and stops pucks with skill. Giguere plays with a great defense/team in front of him, and stops pucks with oversized equipment.

It's not even close.

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

Giguere is a great goaltender but I would have to go with Kiprusoff. The guy's is probably the biggest reason that Calgary have been and still are an extreamly competitive team.

[Jamaica Jon 1]

Kiprusoff is more important to his team, no question. But Giguere really scares me this series. He's a solid goaltender and when he gets hot... he gets HOT. He played very well last night, and as someone mentioned the 2 goals the wings scored were pretty fluky and not his fault at all. If he only gives up fluky goals this series, we're in deep trouble... because we're not gonna get 2/game like we did last night.

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

Kip

Kip

[puertoricanWingsfan 5]

I think it's hard to say... I think if you put Giggy on Calgary's squad behind a lot LESS defense, you'd see how good he is. Kipper is an outstanding goalie, and so is Giggy, but Giggy's got better D. I'm leaning more towards Kip on this one

[Echolalia 2,961]

Kiprusoff is more important to his team, no question. But Giguere really scares me this series. He's a solid goaltender and when he gets hot... he gets HOT. He played very well last night, and as someone mentioned the 2 goals the wings scored were pretty fluky and not his fault at all. If he only gives up fluky goals this series, we're in deep trouble... because we're not gonna get 2/game like we did last night.

Hasek was stopping even the would-be fluke shots last night.

If this series comes down to the battle of the goalies, then we'll win no problem.

[Guest Crymson]

The Wings have faced both in the playoffs.

The Wings have lost series to both the Flames and Ducks in the past, with both Kipper and Giguere being major forces in those series.

The Wings have beaten Kiprusoff tihs year, and hopefully will be able to do the same to Giguere this series.

Who do you think is the better 'tender, in terms of playing the Wings in the playoffs now/in the recent past, and overall?

This is a pretty tough decision, but I got to give the slightest of edges to Kiprusoff. He's just so consistent, fundamentally sound. This is taking absolutely nothing, zero away from Giguere though (spare the "big pads" jokes).

Kiprusoff, easily. He doesn't have two world-class defenseman and a competent offense playing front of him, not to mention that he makes saves with skill rather than oversized pads.

[wingschamps 0]

kipper is by far the better goalie. if you put kipper on the ducks, that team is unbeatable.