Best Goalie Performances Ever

Here are some of the top playoff performances by a goalie.

Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens, 1986

The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup as this rookie sensation racked up a 1.92 goals-against average and won 15 of 20 playoff games. His best game was a 1-0 shutout of the Calgary Flames in Game 4 of the Cup Finals.

Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche, 2001

Selected by many as the best NHL goalie ever, Roy earned four shutouts and 16 playoff victories, including two shutouts in the Finals against the Devils. He had a 1.58 goals-against average in 23 games. It's no surprise that Roy took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP three of the four times he won the Stanley Cup.

Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens, 1971

What is it about rookie goalies and the Habs? Dryden led the Canadiens over the Blackhawks in the Finals and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP. He played in just six NHL games before taking over in the playoffs for all 20 games, then became the NHL's only player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the same season.

Bernie Parent, Flyers, 1975

You might remember this. Parent pitched four shutouts in 15 playoff games and had a 1.89 goals-against average as the Flyers won their second straight Stanley Cup.

Normie Smith, Detroit Red Wings, 1936

Talk about a shutout. Smith had perhaps the best single-game playoff performance by a goalie ever, against the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Maroons. In the first game of the semifinals, Smith held the Maroons scoreless through six overtimes. He also shut out Montreal in the second game and allowed just one goal in the third game. The Red Wings went on to beat the Maple Leafs in the Finals.

Terry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings, 1952

Sawchuk shut out the Maple Leafs twice as the Wings swept the semifinals. Then he shut out the Canadiens twice in another sweep in the Finals. In the eight games, Sawchuk allowed only five goals and compiled a .977 save percentage.

Here are some of the best statistical playoff performances by a goalie (ranked by winning percentage):

Player, Team                      Year      W       L     GAA     SO

1. Grant Fuhr, Oilers            1988       16       2     2.90      0

2. Patrick Roy, Canadiens       1993       16       4     2.13    0

3. Mike Vernon, Flames          1997      16       4     1.76    1

4. Martin Brodeur, Devils       1995      16       4     1.67    3

5. Tom Barrasso, Penguins       1992      16       5     2.82    1

6. Mike Vernon, Flames          1989       16       5     2.26    3

7. Bill Ranford, Oilers          1990      16       6     2.53    1

8. Patrick Roy, Canadiens       1996      16       6     2.10    3

9. Chris Osgood, Wings         1998       16       6     2.12      2

10. Ed Belfour, Stars            1999      16       7     1.67    3

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