Key to playoff success?

Terry Murray has made the playoffs in nine of the 11 full seasons he has spent as an NHL coach, so he should be qualified to answer the question, “How important is goaltending in the playoffs?” We hear about it all the time, and the importance of it, but is it overrated, or given the proper amount of attention? The question seems particularly relevant right now, since there’s been so much discussion of the Kings’ goaltending…

MURRAY: “I think it’s about right. It’s probably the same, with today’s game, to get into the playoffs. You have to have top-level goaltending every night. I know there’s great structure with every team, with the defensive part of the game, but whenever that one breakdown does happen, it is a great scoring chance, and if your goaltender can come up with that one, it gets you back on track and gives the team the confidence to get going. So there’s no question that that position is much talked about as you get through the playoffs, or get into the playoffs, and I think the emphasis will continue to be that way in the future.”

Murray was also asked about Jonathan Quick, in the context of having a goalie that a team can ride and feel confident in at this point in the season…

MURRAY: “Jonathan Quick, in the first half of the season, gave us that kind of feeling on the bench, in the locker room, every day. And he’s right there. In my opinion, he’s still right there. Maybe we haven’t played as solid in front of him. You look after the Olympic break, and statistically, our numbers are off. Shots on goal, shot attempts, giving up scoring chances, our overall digging in real heavy attitude was off a little bit. This will expose a goaltender. With the way we’re playing right now, in the last three or four games, it’s much better, much more of a sound, solid defensive game, checking game, and we’ll see Jonathan Quick back, giving us the same as we got before the Olympic break.”