Goaltenders trending in opposite directions
Photo: Adam Ring/Iowa State Daily
The puck soars after deflecting off of Scott Ismond’s blocker to make a save in a game between the Iowa State and Arizona State on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena. The Sun Devils beat the Cyclones 2-1, completing a sweep of a two-game series the two teams played over the weekend.
November 7, 2012
One goaltender is on a hot streak, while one is struggling as of late.
ISU junior goaltender Scott Ismond has been solid for the Cyclones lately while his teammate, senior Paul Karus, has been struggling.
In his last five appearances, Ismond is 3-2 with a .915 save percentage with wins against Indiana, Illinois and Robert Morris. In the Cyclones’ game against Indiana last Friday, Ismond stopped 34 out of 35 shots, which helped the Cyclones beat the Hoosiers 5-1.
Ismond, who spent last season with the Cyclones’ Division III team that he helped lead to the final four, said he had a turning point after the team’s 3-1 win against Robert Morris on Oct. 19.
“I felt really good in that game, and then it was Saturday night, I just started fighting the puck,” Ismond said. “I’ve been able to come back from that Saturday night. I still don’t feel like I’m at my top where I was at the national tournament, but I’m finding the puck, I’m making the saves that I need to and finding a way to win, which is most important at this point.”
Ismond has a .933 save percentage so far this season and has an overall record of 5-4.
Karus has been cold lately. In his last four appearances he is 0-2-1 — he was pulled out of the Illinois game Oct. 26 after giving up four goals — and has had a save percentage of .880 during those games. He has an .895 overall save percentage.
“There’s some work that needs to be done; obviously nothing that cannot be overcome,” Karus said. “A lot of the bounces, they’re going the other teams’ way right now, and they’re getting more chances on special teams than [they] did last year.”
Karus said he knows NHL goaltender coaches, and that they don’t look at stats and don’t think stats are as accurate when judging a goaltender. ISU coach Al Murdoch has a little bit different view on that subject.
“The statistics don’t tell the whole story, but they tell quite a bit,” Murdoch said.
At this point in the season, Murdoch said he looking for a hot goaltender who can start back-to-back games and win. While Murdoch said he still wants Karus to be a major factor on this team, the stats so far this season would indicate that the hot goaltender is Ismond.
