• 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
Calgary Flames
Flames Goaltending

THW’s Goalie News: All-Star Edition

By Stephen Ground January 26th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The NHL’s All-Star Game festivities officially wrapped up in St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday night. And while most hockey fans are excited to get back to the regular season, it’s important to take a moment and celebrate the men that performed over the weekend. Today, we’ll take a look at the All-Star goalies, starting with Jordan Binnington’s impressive showing at the Skills Competition on Friday night.

Binnington Goes Streaking

The All-Star Skills Competition is every bit as big a draw as the tournament itself these days. And even the goalies have an opportunity to shine amidst all the fastest skaters and hardest shooters. The men in the masks get the Bud Light NHL Save Streak competition, where they go head to head in an attempt to make the most consecutive shootout saves.

JORDAN BINNINGTON JUST WON THE BUD LIGHT SAVE STREAK!!! #stlblues #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/pFH1f8pdrN

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 25, 2020

Playing in the Enterprise Center, the home arena of his St. Louis Blues, Binnington got the opportunity to go on last. Needing to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy’s streak of nine consecutive saves, a series of Pacific Division shooters tried to beat the hometown hero. Leon Draisaitl was turned away. Binnington prevented shots from young Vancouver Canucks superstars Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, and then the real fun began.

Tomáš Hertl of the San Jose Sharks stepped to center ice and stopped, removing something from his sweater. He put it over his face, and the audience realized it was a Justin Bieber mask, a reference to Binnington’s internet feud with the young pop singer. Hertl made a lackluster effort to beat his counterpart and it was off to the races. Binnington made six more saves, closing with stops on St. Louis native Matthew Tkachuk and another on Draisaitl, and the crowd went wild.

Brady Matthew Tkachuk
Brothers Matthew (right) and Brady (left) Tkachuk got to take part in the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition in their hometown over the weekend. Their father Keith even joined them during Friday’s festivities. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Binnington celebrated with his usual home crowd and, as always, was prepared with an epic quote after the performance. “You know, haven’t skated in a couple days, uh, had a few drinks, and uh, you know I’m happy with the outcome,” he told a reporter after his victory. Never change, Jordan. Never change.

Rittich Leads Pacific to Victory

The All-Star Game has never been a place designed for goalies to shine. And since the NHL made the switch to a three-on-three tournament, the men between the pipes have been little more than an afterthought. The combined 38 goals scored on Saturday served to reinforce that truth. But one goalie did rise above the pack.

David Rittich, known affectionately as “Big Save Dave” by his Calgary Flames fans, made the All-Star Game on Jan. 15 as Darcy Kuemper’s replacement. He has a respectable .913 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.77 goals-against average (GAA) this season, though he joked that he was only named to the All-Star Game “because the Pacific has no one else.”

David Rittich Calgary Flames
Pacific Division goaltender David Rittich of the Calgary Flames makes a save in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game. (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

On a day when the All-Stars scored 38 goals in 60 minutes of action, only Rittich gave respectable performances in net. He played 10 minutes in each game, allowing just two goals total, with nine saves in the first contest against the Central Division and three saves in the championship game against the Atlantic Division. At the end of the night, it was Rittich and his teammates who were celebrating and holding a $1 million check. Even so, it was Rittich’s counterpart in the Atlantic Division, David Pastrnak, who was named All-Star Game MVP.

Goalie Gram: Vacations Galore

While a trip to the All-Star Game is a great honor for any player, missing out on the festivities offers other players a rare opportunity at a break during the season. And many goalies took full advantage of that chance. Social media was littered with photos of goalies in exotic locals, such as this one from the red-hot Elvis Merzlikins vacationing in the tropics with his significant other.

View this post on Instagram

🌴

A post shared by Elvis Merzlikins (@merzly) on Jan 24, 2020 at 10:43am PST

Whether they traveled to St. Louis or the flew off around the world, these netminders will be returning home soon. The NHL begins the second half of the season on Monday night, meaning THW’s Goalie News will be returning Tuesday morning.

In the meantime, for all the goalie updates you need, check out THW’s Goalie Page.

  • Tags
  • All-Star Weekend
  • David Rittich
  • Jordan Binnington
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 11:45 AM
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Failure to Trade Johnson Could Be Blessing in Disguise

Jan 18th 11:35 AM
Buffalo Sabres

Constructing Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams’ 2020-21 Report Card

Jan 18th 11:25 AM
NHL Goaltending

The Oilers Have Options to Stabilize Their Goaltending Situation

Jan 18th 11:15 AM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks’ Power Play Could Use an Addition Like Yandle

Jan 18th 11:05 AM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Banter: Season Outlook, First Line & Standout Players

Jan 18th 10:55 AM
Hockey History

Rangers’ Esposito Era: 5 Best and Worst Trades of ‘Trader Phil’

Jan 18th 10:45 AM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Top-Line Romp, Campbell, Holl & Spezza

Jan 18th 10:35 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche’s Makar Could Join Bobby Orr in the History Books

Jan 18th 10:25 AM
Edmonton Oilers

3 Takeaways From Oilers Loss to the Canadiens

Jan 18th 10:15 AM
Column

Penguins Weekly: Rough Opening Week With Lessons to Learn

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

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