Two Top Goalies Face-Off In The Eastern Conference Finals Of The Stanley Cup Playoffs

The difference between the regular season and the playoffs is quite noticeable, even to the average fan. But the difference in quality between competing teams in a playoff series, however, is not always so apparent.

The difference between success and failure more often than not depends on goaltending; the team with the better one often wins.

Kevin Wooley, an Independent Correspondent for NHL.com, broke-down and charted the last 100 goals scored on both Bobrovsky and Andersen, shedding light on both their strengths and weaknesses.

Both goalies were guilty of allowing the majority of their goals up high during the regular season, both blocker and glove side. The difference between the 2 came during their playoff performances.

Boborovsky has allowed 15 goals in the upper one-third of the net, while Andersen has only given up 3. In fact, Bobrovsky has allowed more goals than Andersen in all areas of the net, except low-blocker side - Freddie's 2 to Sergei's zero.

Both goalies have been very good handling pucks fired at both the middle and lower parts of the net, with Bobrovsky allowing 9, and Anderson 6. The main difference has been the style that each goalie plays.

Bobrovsky is more acrobatic and uses his stick quite a bit more, sweeping at players attempting to spill-out from behind the goal line, and using the poke-check in both net-front situations and breakaways.

Anderson, on the other hand, plays deeper inside his net, making him more susceptible to net-front tips and deflections. He is, however, very strong technically, and plays well off the opposing team's rush chances, and with shots taken from the face-off dot.

Statistically, however, the two goalies match-up well. Bobrovski has started in 12 playoff games, has won 8, has 2 shutouts with a 2.31gaa and .901save %, while Freddie has appeared in 9 playoff games, has won 7, with 1 shutout, a 1.36gaa, and a .937 save %.

As the games increase in physicality, it may just come down to which team has the bigger goalie in stature, that can handle the physical stuff, and more importantly, has the bigger heart.