Goepfert, Neuvirth each record shutouts
Posted 04:12 p.m., November 10, 2008
Well it looks like I was a little premature on my assessment that Bobby Goepfert is the Stingrays No. 1 goalie.
It appears that rookie Michal Neuvirth is going to have something to say about that. His shutout 4-0 shutout of the Augusta Lynx Sunday has put Rays coach Jared Bednar on notice that he’s not going to take the status of “back-up” goalie quietly, which is good news for Stingrays Nation.
I think Goepfert’s shutout was a little more impressive than Neuvirth’s. The Checkers came into the week in first place in the ECHL’s South Division and have more firepower in their lineup than Augusta.
Still, each has proven they are capable of shutting down teams in the division. The more competition there is between those two, the better off the Rays will be in the long run. The one thing the Rays lacked last season in the playoffs was a “big game” goaltender. It looks like they’ve got two right now.
About the only bad news for the Rays is if something were to happen up top with either Hershey or Washington at the goalie position. It’s no secret that Darren Machesney has struggled early in the season up in Hershey. Cheese is 5-3-0 with a 3.58 GAA and a .856 save percentage. His overall record is OK, but his save percentage and goals against are abysmal on a team that is as loaded as Hershey is. Rumors in Hershey are that the front office is trying to “loan” him out to another AHL team.
If that happens, my guess is that Neuvirth, who was a second-round pick in 2006, would get the nod over Goepfert. Washington just has too much money invested in Neuvirth for him to remain here in the ECHL under that scenario.
Onto other matters. Up until last week, the Rays were getting little production out of their second line. I know Bedsy wasn’t pleased with the way Steve Pinizzotto and Trent Campbell were playing. Heck, Steve and Trent were not pleased with the way they were playing. Bedsy bristled at the suggestion from certain members of the media that he should reunite Pinner and Campbell on the same line like last season.
But, he eventually came around and put them back together along with Pierre-Luc O’Brien, who hadn’t exactly been setting the world on fire.
In the three games last week: Pinizzotto (2g., 1a), Campbell (2g., 1 a) and Pierre-Luc O’Brien (1g. 1 a) got it going offensively and the Rays won all three games. A coincidence? I think not. Keep that line together. Once Keith Johnson, who had 28 goals a year ago in Utah, gets going, the Rays will have three balanced lines and watch out.
I’m going to try and catch-up with defenseman Sasha Pokulok and find out what happened last Saturday night with the fire. Sounds like he’s lucky to be alive.
One last thing, I’m going to be the “interim” Clemson football beat writer for the next three weeks, so I might not get to post as often as I’d like. Please be patient, I’m pulling double-duty.
OK, one more last, last thing. I just purchased a new digital recorder with a USB port and with our website looking to go more “multi-media” my plan beginning in December is to start posting some audio and eventually some video items on the Stingrays page. Not exactly sure how it’ll work, but that’s the plan.
See you at The Rink,
APM
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Comments
Posted by season_ticket_holder on November 10 at 5:04 p.m.
Andrew,
It's real easy being the Clemson beat writer - repeat after me:
"In a season that started with such high hopes, the Clemson Tigers managed once again to clutch defeat out of the hands of victory. Good luck to whoever is foolish enough to take the head coaching job next season"
This should get you through the next three weeks with no problem.
Posted by stingraysfan109 on November 10 at 9:40 p.m.
My sympathies on your new assignment Mr. Miller. Not only might you not get a proper hockey fix during this side-trip, but you have to expend your professional talents on Clemson football, an oxymoron if ever there has been one during the past few years. All will be well, though. Hockey is available through a myriad of sources and REAL college football is available courtesy of The University of Alabama. ROLL TIDE!
Posted by stingrays01 on November 10 at 9:51 p.m.
Hopefully for you Andrew, the Clemson football assignment will be just an “interim” gig. Any longer than that and you will end up throwing away your toothbrush, start chewing tobacco, put a couch on your front porch and start driving a used beatup tractor.
Or in other words, you will be like our old friends, the Pee Dee Pride fans...lol
Posted by PDDuke85 on November 10 at 10:58 p.m.
Andrew,
Don't be discouraged about the Clemson assignment. Simply move all Clemson reports to Local section, pages 4 and 5. That should leave the front page, sports section, free for teams that matter. Let's Go Rays.
And OBTW, Duke by 17 Saturday
Posted by RaysRsharp on November 12 at 4:29 p.m.
Back to hockey.......... Brent Henley is in Augusta
now. Should be good for some entertainment, and some power plays. :)
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