It's that time, folks: Friday means ASK THE MAVEN returns. Today's question comes via Stu Gabos of Hunter, N.Y.
GOALIES ARE GETTING MORE INJURED THAN EVER YET HAVE MORE EQUIPMENT THAN EVER. HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE GOALKEEPER INJURIES?
The Maven Replies: It's all about goaltending – and shooting – styles. During the pre-World War II days and even beyond, goalies played a much more "stand-up" style, all without masks.
When Lester Patrick ran the Rangers he cautioned his goalies about dropping to the ice. "They are more vulnerable that way," Patrick insisted. Virtually all goalies agreed; which meant that the only time they fell to the ice was in a scoring emergency.
The switch to the dropping-to-the-knees "butterfly" began in the 1960's with Black Hawks goalie Glenn Hall who only occasionally went to his knees. But Hall was so successful, he was able to play 502 consecutive games and all without a mask.
Eventually most goalies resorted to the "butterfly" which uses a totally different set of lower body muscles than stand-up, and these newer muscles were more vulnerable to injuries, and still are.
In addition, players are bigger than ever and shooting harder. When a big player crashes the net – and it happens often – goalies are more apt to suffer injuries.
What surprises me is that none of the current goalie have tried the standup style although it could turn out to be more effective than the "butterfly."
And cause fewer injuries!