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Let Us All Stand Up, Wherever We May Be, and Salute Dan Vladar
By Matt Schultz
Published:
The Flyers just took the first two games on the road in Pittsburgh.
In NHL history, teams who take a 2-0 lead on the road win that series 79.4% of the time. This is good.
Now, let’s talk credit.
There are plenty of guys who deserve some flowers, here. Porter Martone looks like a superstar. Rick Tocchet is a coach the guys are playing hard for. Danny Briere wisely didn’t sell at the trade deadline.
But no one deserves more credit than Dan Vladar. Through two games, he’s had 42 saves on 44 shots (.955 SV%), and has only allowed two goals. Among all goalies so far in this postseason, Vladar ranks 3rd in save percentage, is tied for second in fewest goals against, and is fifth in total shots faced (45). Our guy is playing outstanding.
Which is why it is now time for all of us, no matter where we are – at a desk, in a cubicle, driving a car (pull over, this is important) – and salute our superhuman-looking goaltender, Dan Vladar.
Once you’re doing that, with your other hand, you may watch this clip of Tocchet talking up Vladdy after Monday night’s win:
“He’s been like that all year for us. Guys enjoy playing for him. Like I told you guys, he comes by the bench, he’s talking to the players, talking to the bench – lot of guys aren’t used to goalies talking that much, but that’s the way Vladdy is. I love his personality. He’s a fun guy to coach, I’ll tell you that… There was a time when they were pressing us, about three, four minutes in, and we got to the timeout, and they were coming in waves at us, and he said, ‘We’re okay. Guys, don’t worry about it. Relax.’ He says that, he’s the goalie and, you know, he’s getting peppered a little bit? It means a lot, cause now guys are like, ‘Oh man, I gotta pick my game up, or I maybe gotta block a shot for this guy.’”
It really has been incredible to watch what Vladar’s doing. That second period onslaught was nuts. You could feel the momentum swing Pittsburgh’s way – their pressing was relentless, the crowd was getting into it, and the Flyers were getting caught flatfooted with tired legs. I said out loud to no one in particular, “They’re gonna score here.” It felt inevitable. The Penguins were walking into quality shots in the slot, they were getting second-chance looks off rebounds, their time of possession was way up – Pittsburgh was playing desperate, and it’s not easy to stave off a team playing with that kind of intensity.
And yet… Vladdy was doing stuff like this!
So from all of us, Dan Vladar: We salute you.
Readers are dismissed now. You may stop saluting.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…)