As the NHL playoffs approach, the matchup between Wedgewood and Forsberg presents an intriguing narrative. Both goalies have demonstrated impressive skills that could influence the outcome of the Western Conference First Round.
Wedgewood’s Positional Aggression
Wedgewood has established himself as an exceptional skater, excelling in various movement techniques. His style incorporates aggressive positional play, often positioning himself above the crease. This strategy has resulted in a significant number of goals scored against him due to backdoor plays.
- total goals against: 30
- percentage of goals on backdoor tap-ins: 34.8%
- average goals tracked in this category: 24.3%
- goals off lateral plays: 22, which is 25.6%
Wedgewood’s performance on cross-ice plays has also been notable. Seven of his eleven goals allowed below the hash marks came from positions outside his standard locations, showcasing his aggressive net play.
Avoiding the Glove Side
Wedgewood employs a unique glove position, which has yielded impressive results against shots aimed high and low. Remarkably, he has not conceded a single clean goal over the glove. Even on partial breakaways, he has been able to minimize scoring opportunities.
- goals against over the glove: 1
- goals allowed low on the glove side: 0
Blocker Side Efficiency
Statistics show that Wedgewood performs slightly above average against high blocker shots. However, he excels in stopping shots under the blocker, where his performance is notably better than the league average.
- percentage of goals allowed high blocker: 19.8%
- average goals against high blocker: 17.8%
- average goals against under the blocker: 17.4%
- average goals allowed under the blocker: 10.3%
Most goals scored came from traffic in front of him, emphasizing the need for unimpeded sightlines during play.
Forsberg’s Strong Finish
On the other side, Forsberg has made headlines with his formidable performance this season. Despite expectations for another goaltender to lead the Kings, Forsberg delivered remarkable results that cannot be ignored.
- season save percentage: .910
- rank among NHL goalies: 7th for those with at least 25 games
- final month record: 5-2-0
- save percentage during final month: .946
His contributions were pivotal in the Kings securing a playoff position, underscoring his crucial role as the season drew to a close.
Playoff Outlook
The upcoming series in the Western Conference First Round will feature Wedgewood and Forsberg as key players. Their performances will be crucial in determining which team advances, highlighting the significance of goaltending in postseason matchups.
