[Cage Match Tournament] #3 Howard vs. #6 Elliott

[metaldude26]

Is it Week Three in the Cage Match Tournament already? I suppose it is. Not that time is really flying all that much with the current lockout still raging harder than a fear boner. And if you didn't get that reference I just can't imagine what you've been doing with your life. But alas, Week Three it is and we have the opening round match ups in the Sawchuk Bracket.

Please vote and make your voices heard. And remember the scoring categories are Wins, GAA, Save% and Shutouts. Also, please check the article on the home page for last week's results!

The other match ups this week:

#1 Ryan Miller vs. #8 Sergei Bobrovsky
#2 Jaroslav Halak vs. #7 Jose Theodore
#4 Antti Niemi vs. #5 Craig Anderson

[DerekReese]

Howard for me boss.

[ericdaoust]

This one is interesting, but you gotta respect a workhorse type.

[nate_avsfan11]

gotta go with Elliot here.

wings will be a different team without lidstrom for sure (i kno ppl say the wings are supposed to take a step back every yr but its gotta happen sometime right?), and with him no longer on the blueline i think it impacts howard the most.

Last yr the wings had the third least SA/G (27). Howard's SV% was .920
In 10-11 the wings had the 16th lowest SA/G (30.7). Howards SV% was .908

This yr with a weakened defence (Colaiacovo cant seriously be the solution to their Defensive holes) the Wings will likely allow more shots, which is not a good thing for Howard in my mind.

Elliot on the other hand is on one of the best defensive teams in the league, as the blues gave up the least SA/G (26.7). Theres no reason that couldnt happen again.

Elliot has proven he's at his best when splitting time and Halak is there to do just that. Im not saying Elliot hits .940 again (how could he??) but .930 is not out of the question. Even .925 would completely trump Howard, who probly will end up around .911/12/13

For me, Elliot wins on SV%, G.A.A and probably shutouts too. Howard should still take wins based on starts but Howard has only 11 SO in 3 yrs so even if Elliot gets 5 or 6 (doesnt need 9 again), Elliot wins.

Wings on the way down...Blues can challenge for top spot in west again.

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

One awesome year by Elliott doesn't erase the memory of 3 awful years before that. Elliott is still not a good goalie in my mind, he'll need to have another good season before I change my mind. For now I'll take the goalie that's had 2 very good years with a sophomore slump in between (which is normal for goalies). Lidstrom's loss is being so so so overblown.

[Bomm Bastic]

Howard, if not for anything else but the fact Elliott's not reliable beyond 3-4 consecutive games played.

[hockeyrobot]

Gotta go with my boy Jimmy. Elliott only has one successful season under his belt and if anything he'll be splitting time once again. I know they resigned him but you also have to think the Blues would go with Halak before him.

[bondon]

Howard, if not for anything else but the fact Elliott's not reliable beyond 3-4 consecutive games played.

Same...and I don't doubt Halak in the least so I wouldn't be to worried on that front.

Could definitely see Elliott pulling out the better peripherals though.

[Axeman33]

Theres no question who the starter is in Detroit. I will go with the starter over the backup. I am like FTD, I dont trust Elliott after only 1 good year. Show some consistent seasons of those type of numbers and I will change my mind.

[The Comish]

Definitely take the starter over a 1a/1b setup at best.