With a 1-1-1 record and a 3.17 GAA and a .916 GAA in three playoffs games this season, Brooklyn Aces goaltender Eddie Neville could hardly be blamed for his team’s demise this post-season.
In game one, Neville was one step ahead of Jersey goaltender and EPHL MVP Nick Niedert the entire night and played perhaps one of the biggest roles in the first playoff win in the franchise’s history.
Making 35 saves on 37 shots, it’s obvious that Neville wasn’t as busy as Niedert, but he made the big saves when he had to.
That’s all you ask a goaltender to do, especially in the playoffs.
However, much like the play of his entire team, Neville was never the same goaltender after the 25 minute stoppage in play by referee Mike Geoffrion in game two.
Through the first 104:26 of the series, Neville made 53 saves on 56 shots. Through the rest of the series, Neville gave up a whopping seven goals on only 47 shots. From these numbers alone, it’s obvious that something changed.
Some may say that the Aces lost their momentum. Others may say that Jersey took advantage of an opportunity and didn’t look back.
Either way you look at it however, Neville was in net and played a part in the eventual outcome of the series.
While the first two goals he gave up after that fracas had more to do with the Aces defense allowing Matt Tyree and Chris Ferazzoli access to prime real estate in the offensive zone, the second goal Tyree scored, just 13 seconds after Kyle McCullough gave the Aces the lead, was definitely one that charismatic goaltender should have stopped.
The same thing goes for the goal he gave up in overtime to Tom Boudreau goal in overtime that while being induced by sloppy defensive play behind the net, Neville had a perfect look at the shot.
In spite of that, it’s hard to bash a goaltender that takes two of the three games he plays into overtime and keeps it close enough to warrant an extra attacker for the last few minutes of the third game.
Simply put, if the Aces or any distraught fans are looking for a scapegoat in Neville, they should look somewhere else.
Grade- B+
Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr.
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