• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
St Louis Blues

Brian Elliott Making a Case for Starter

By Jeff Ponder March 28th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
Brian Elliott Blues

Elliott has allowed just 4 goals in his last 6 starts. (Bob Frid/Icon SMI)

St. Louis Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock will have a hard decision to make on April 8.

The day after the Blues’ last game of the season, Hitchcock will have to decide between two golden starting goalies to be the one he rides into the 2012 NHL playoffs.  Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott have been a coach’s delight this season.  It does not matter which goalie is in net, the Blues just continue to pile on victories.

After the Blues’ 3-0 playoff-series-type victory over the Nashville Predators, Brian Elliott posted a franchise-high 186:33 shutout streak, spanning over four games.  It started in the third period of the Blues and Carolina Hurricanes meeting in Raleigh on March 15.  He followed that up by shutting out the Los Angeles Kings (a 1-0 shootout loss for his team), the Phoenix Coyotes (4-0 win for the Blues) and continued it through the meeting with the Predators Tuesday night.

Elliott now has nine shutouts on the season, which leads the league.  His impressive 1.48 GAA and .943 save percentage also lead the entire NHL.

The near-27 year old goaltender says that the same day-by-day routine is what contributes to his recent success.

“I think you just try to have that same feeling,” Elliott said.  “You want to have that winning feeling when you go for warm-ups and [when you are] just trying to get the feel for pucks and get in the game.”

Elliott will likely smash his former career-highs at season’s end as his best year came in his second full NHL season with the Ottawa Senators (2.57 GAA, .909 save percentage and 5 shutouts).

Halak has posted a 9-1-1 record in his last 11 games.(Cheryl Adams - HockeyBroad/Flickr)

Before Elliott began this streak, Jaroslav Halak was getting the majority of the starts since the All-Star Break in January.  Halak is nipping at Elliott’s heels in all stats, as he currently ranks second in GAA (1.90), sixth in save percentage (.927) and fourth in shutouts (6).

Competition for the starting job has been friendly but fierce.

“It’s been going on all year,” Elliott said.  “I think we kind of thrive off that competition.  Every time [the other guy is in net] we are cheering for [each other] and we want to win for the guys.  We’re not trying to be perfect in there [and we are] just trying to do our job and give the guys a chance to win.”

“We don’t expect them to be playing this good but they are and it’s great,” said forward T.J. Oshie.  “It gives us confidence to go out and make plays to know that they are going to be behind us.  You look at their numbers this year and it’s unbelievable.

“We make a costly turnover and [Elliott] or [Halak] come up big.  That takes the momentum that [the opponent] gains off the turnover and brings it right back into our corner.”

Oshie says that they are just as sharp in the morning skates.

“It depends on what drills we’re doing but more often than not it’s tough to score.  It can get frustrating.  Maybe that’s why we don’t get as many goals.”

Hitchcock has stated that this will not be an easy choice to make but he knows that a decision is inevitable.

Hitchcock has posted a 42-13-9 record since joining the Blues on November 7 (Jeff Little/THW)

“I don’t know if it’s a good problem to have, but it’s one that I’m putting off until the last possible moment,” Hitchcock said on Monday. “I don’t even want to think about it because I know if I start thinking about it, something is going to happen … a guy might get dinged up, or whatever. To me, I’m going to wait until the playoffs start before I make that determination. I just feel like I owe it to both guys to continue to play both guys.”

When Hitchcock was brought aboard in early November, an early promise that he made to his goaltenders was that if they get the shutout, they would be rewarded with a start in the next game.  With just five games remaining on the schedule and time ticking away for Hitchcock to make a decision, he has had to go back on his word.  After all, Halak deserves a look as much as his counterpart does.

Hitchcock was dead-set on his answer as to who will start Thursday when the Blues travel to the Windy City to battle the division-rival Chicago Blackhawks.

“Halak on Thursday.  We’ll just move on from that.  That’s a new rule I just invented,” Hitchcock said with a chuckle.

Even with Elliott playing as well as he is, his teammate and friend has just as much a chance to lead the Blues to victory.

The goaltending battle will be the top story until the playoffs begin in mid-April.

  • Tags
  • Brian Elliott
  • Jaroslav Halak
  • T.J. Oshie
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 9:45 AM
Boston Bruins

Flyers’ Voracek Makes History in Loss to Bruins

Jan 23rd 9:25 AM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes’ Season Put on Pause Due to COVID-19 Protocol

Jan 23rd 9:15 AM
Commentary

NHL Honors Willie O’Ree’s Legacy, But Struggles With Diversity Continue

Jan 23rd 9:05 AM
Colorado Avalanche

3 Takeaways From Avalanche’s OT Win Against Ducks

Jan 23rd 8:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Adam Brooks Makes the Most of His Opportunity

Jan 23rd 8:45 AM
Advanced Stats

Devils Must Find Ways to Get Gusev & Johnsson Going

Jan 23rd 8:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 23

Jan 22nd 6:25 PM
Column

Winnipeg Jets News & Rumors: Hellebuyck, Scheifele, Ehlers & Connor

Jan 22nd 5:35 PM
Advanced Stats

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Still Has Trade Value, But Big Cap Hit Hurts

Jan 22nd 5:25 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Held Back By John Tortorella’s Stubbornness

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information