So, why the big deal about goalies having their normally miniscule numbers balloon to the same levels they were at as recently as 13 years ago?
Some goalies have complained forwards parking their posterior in front of the net can no longer be moved by defensemen because of the new rules.
New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur took it a step further and complained that the forwards were purposely running into him.
Other goalies have since followed Brodeur like the mice following the pied piper complaining around every turn about the way the game is now being played.
But one has stood out from the crowd and said, hey, this is all right by me.
"It’s going to be called the way it’s going to be called. I’m not a guy who’s going to complain about it because I’m a good sized guy and I can take hits," said Flyers goalie Robert Esche. "As long as goals aren’t going in because of it, I’m not going to complain about it."
The rules have changed dramatically in the past six years. As recently as 1999, goals were being disallowed if a player had his pinky toe in the crease, even if it didn’t interfere with the play.
Now, all bets are off.
"I didn’t particularly like the rules when you couldn’t have a skate or a stick in the crease," said Esche. "It’s fine if they’re going to bump the goalies. Goalies have to be prepared for that. If a goal goes in because the goalie gets bumped, then I think it’s fair for the goalies to complain a little bit, but if you’re going to get bumped into or jabbed a little bit, that’s part of the sport."
Esche seems like a different goalie all of the sudden, and maybe it’s because of this more ho-hum approach to his craft.
Always known as a goalie who rode on his own emotions, Esche thinks the game has changed significantly enough to warrant a different approach.
"I’ve really never put much respect into goals against (average) or save percentage personally," he said. "I’ve always been a win column type of guy and that’s all I care about. Now more so then ever.
"That’s because we don’t know what the benchmark is going to be in the NHL. Right now I don’t know if you can tell me who has the best goalie or the hottest goalie in the league. I don’t even know. With these new rules we really don’t know and we won’t know for a couple years."
Focusing on the end result and not letting each goal weigh on him has made Esche into a better goalie almost overnight.
After his first two starts, in which he was lousy, Esche has come on strong with back-to-back wins in solid outings heading into Montreal last night.
"Yeah it’s a much different approach," he said. "(Toronto goalie) Ed (Belfour) had 49 saves (Monday) and they barely won the game 5-4. I don’t think you can be upset with that type of performance.
"Sure, he might not be happy about some of the goals, but on the other hand he played pretty well and made the important stops. Anymore, it doesn’t matter if you give up six goals as long as we score seven. That’s the way you have to approach it. There’s going to be nights when we get blown out defensively and still win games."
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Speaking of goaltenders, Flyers backup goalie Antero Niittymaki finally received his first NHL goalie mask and it’s a classic.
When he first arrived on the Flyers scene during the 2003-04 season, Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock called him "Frank" in honor of the famous Al Capone right-hand man Frank Nitti.
Now, Nitti is adorned, with machine gun a blazing on each side of Niittymaki’s mask. Bullets and bullet holes dote the front and back, and the name "Niitty" is adorned on the jaw.
Nittymaki had no idea who the gangster was before Hitchcock labeled him with the nickname.
But once the name stuck, Niittymaki watched "The Untouchables" and grew to love the character.
"I like him I, really do," said Niittymaki.
Even though he’s a bad guy?
"Yeah," he said. "That makes me like him even more."
To contact Anthony J. SanFilippo, e-mail asanfilippo@delcotimes.com