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How the goalies stack up in the Stanley Cup Conference Finals
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has been forced into starting action following Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop's injury. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

How the goalies stack up in the Stanley Cup Conference Finals

In evening up the Western Conference Final series with the St. Louis Blues, members of the San Jose Sharks reportedly were more pleased with one player’s contribution to the 4-0 shutout:

This isn’t the first time that Team Teal has expressed unwavering confidence in its starting goalie, whose calm demeanor is now as widely recognized for being part of the Sharks' persona as, say, Joe Pavelski's power play goals and Brent Burns’ post-game pizza.

Jones isn’t the only goalie getting this kind of attention. No matter how fantastic the defense may be, the puck ultimately stops with the guy between the pipes. The pressure for the four netminders starting in the Stanley Cup Conference Finals becomes even greater now, with both East and West series tied up at a game apiece.

Here’s a look at all four starting goaltenders.

Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins
Long before speculation that Anton Stralman’s shot went straight through Murray’s glove, the 21-year-old goalie has been a hot discussion point. With Pittsburgh's veteran starter Marc-Andre Fleury sidelined for the better part of postseason play due to injury, Murray has had to hold down the fort for a Pittsburgh team that has met up with some tough competition this postseason.

Tom Gulitti of NHL.com pointed out ahead of Game 3 that Murray hasn’t been as strong between the pipes in the last handful of tilts, but the opposing Tampa Bay Lightning “haven't tested him a lot so far, totaling 41 shots on goal in the first two games.” A big key to Murray’s game this postseason, though, has been how he has adjusted to adversity — like buckling down after an iffy first frame in Game 2 that was highlighted by Stralman’s “goal through the glove” shenanigans.

It will also be interesting to see how the he does in this round on home ice, with the series shifting to Consol Energy Center for Games 3 and 4.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Another backup turned starter, Vasilevskiy has been given the starting nod until further notice with Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop sidelined with a lower-body injury. Vasilevskiy has allowed four goals in 67 shots since filling in for Bishop, including Sidney Crosby’s overtime marker that gave the Pens a 3-2 victory in Game 2, but Bolts coach Jon Cooper has reportedly expressed that he is more concerned with the defense playing in front of Vasilevskiy going forward.

Player-turned-analyst Kevin Weekes described Vasilevskiy as a strong point in Tampa Bay’s arsenal, per NHL.com:

“The great thing for Tampa Bay is that its goaltending is going to be great every night. Fortunately, Ben Bishop's injury is nowhere near as serious as it appeared to be, and coach Jon Cooper even said Tuesday that he could return sometime in this series. Andrei Vasilevskiy came in to replace him in Game 1 and got the win, then he made 38 saves and still gave them a chance to win Game 2.”

Brian Elliott, St. Louis Blues
St. Louis’s smothering defense in these playoffs has been complimented by Elliott, who has been a wall in net for the better part of the postseason. The first game of the series was highlighted by his performance between the pipes, and a shiny 2.26 goals-against average and .929 save percentage are more proof of his prowess.

That sparkling stat line was challenged, however, in the second game of the Western Conference Final when he gave up three goals to the opposing San Jose Sharks.

Yet, as Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch pointed out after the Blues were shut out 4-0, the goaltending was one of the few things the Blues got right on Tuesday night:

“The only saving grace Tuesday was goalie Brian Elliott. If not for a few of his 20 saves, the game could have been more out of hand.”

This makes Game 3 something of a statement tilt for Elliott in how he responds to San Jose’s offense, which exploded in Game 2.

Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks
Jones exemplifies the 2016 Sharks’ pattern of bouncing back after a rough loss. Part of that has to do with his mild-mannered attitude. Teammate Tommy Wingels told the press after San Jose’s Game 2 win over St. Louis: “You can see the poise in his game. Seems like he never has an elevated heart rate.”

Said demeanor shines like a beacon when the 26-year-old Vancouver native gets locked in to a game, like he did when he shut out the Blues in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final. After surrendering the game-winner to Jori Lehtera in Game 1, Jones knew he had to put it behind him quickly and bounce back.

“You don't like to lose on a goal like that, but I thought I played well other than that,” he told Comcast SportsNet California. “I wasn't about to change anything.”

There’s no reason for him to change anything, given that he’s notched a .923 save percentage with a mere 2.01 goals-against average through his first postseason as a starter.

Jones has now tallied two shutouts in three games, counting the Sharks’ 5-0 rout of the Nashville Predators in Game 7 of the second round. He and the Sharks now return to that scene in San Jose for Games 3 and 4, where Team Teal hasn’t lost a game since the first round.

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