Team USA/Team Canada Olympic Goalie Power Rankings: Week 4

Author:
amuir29
Publish date:
Oct 30, 2013

Jonathan Quick hasn't been consistently sharp, but he's the best of a shaky US bunch. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Each week, we'll rank the top contenders to man the pipes for Team USA and Team Canada in Sochi based on their play to date. (All stats current as of Wed. Oct. 30)

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Team USA

1. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

He needed to get back into the groove after he allowed four goals against the Coyotes last Thursday night, but the woeful Oilers didn't offer much of a test, sending just 18 shots his way. "He's probably their guy," a scout informed me last week, "but they'd probably feel a little better if he'd string a couple of good ones together." (Last week: 1)

2. Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

Four straight losses, sure, but the guy is being hung out to dry by a Red Wings team that hasturned into a turnover machine. Howard looked very, very sharp while coming up on the short end against the Rangers. (Last week: 3)

3. Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

The first shoe finally dropped in Buffalo with the trade of Thomas Vanek, which means that all talk now centers around when Miller will earn his ticket out of town. If that distraction isn't enough to knock him off his game, the stunning lack of defensive cohesiveness on display in front of him should do the trick. The 12 goals he's allowed over the past three games show how tough it is to stay mentally sharp under these circumstances. (Last week: 2)

4. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils

A tough season just got tougher for Devils net minder Cory Schneider. (Andy Marlin/Getty Images)

If he hadn't landed on IR after aggravating an old lower body injury last week, Schneider would have found himself in the top three. Like Miller, he's losing a lot of games. Unlike Miller, he's playing with a controlled discipline that allows him to rise above the sorry state of the team in front of him. (Last week: 5)

5. Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators

Anderson, coming off two brutal starts in which he's allowed 11 goals on 68 shots, is fading into dark horse territory for even the No. 3 role. The Sens are playing sloppy in front of him, but the big, timely save that's long been his hallmark has eluded him of late. (Last week: 4)

Team Canada

1. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

We are 99 days away from the Sochi Games and this gig is pretty much Price's to lose. He was strong in all three starts last week, allowing just four goals, but really showed off his stuff in a 35-save loss to the Sharks. There's a real sharpness to his game right now that should comfort Canada's legions of fearful supporters. (Last week: 1)

2. Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

He's allowed two goals or fewer in six of his last seven appearances (the other was a five-goal stinker against the Wild on Saturday that we'll consider an outlier), and has proved that he can stay mentally sharp in low-shot affairs. He has the athleticism to handle a higher shot count as well, but doesn't look like Canada's starter. They'd have to feel comfortable with him in a supporting role. (Last week: 2)

3. Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes

Giving up four goals to the Kings is one thing, but four to the Oilers? They're a junior team! (or so Lars Eller tells me). Credit, though, for a strong bounceback against Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Couldn't really blame him on the one shot that eluded him to mar his 41-save effort. (Last week: 3)

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4. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

A scout told me last week that "a broken leg" is the only thing that would prevent the Canadian brass from selecting Luongo for Sochi. I'm not so sure, although I liked the way he raised his game when Cory Schneider was in the opposing net last week. He clearly has another gear. The trick now is to find that level more consistently. (Last week: NR)

5. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

(Last week: 5)