Saving grace

(breaking out a comment)

Justin F asked back on Yep:

Hey I was thinking about how many games this year Dubie has been making alot of saves and was wondering who holds the franchise record for most saves in a season and if there is any chance of Dubie breaking that record this season?

Interesting thought... the number itself is 1,407, by Rick DiPietro in 2001-02; Dubielewicz comes into tonight's start with 1,011, so he needs 396; at a conservative 30 saves a game, that's possible in 13-plus games.

But DiPietro did that in 59 games. If you break it down like goals-against average (saves per 60 minutes played), that DiPietro season is in the bottom third. Here's what the Top 5 in that fake "SA" stat looks like, coincidentally the only ones so far over 30 (apologies in advance, 'cause I'm sure this table won't work right):

Name	Season	MP	Svs	"SA"
Dubielewicz	05-06	2574:51	1362	31.74
Rudkowsky	05-06	494:28	259	31.43
St. Germain	02-03	329:32	166	31.08
Cloutier	05-06	895:51	450	30.14
Valiquette	01-02	1070:33	537	30.10

(Sixth is Madden last year, 29.71.)

Where do this year's goalies stand? Thompson 33.05; Dubielewicz 32.23.