The Complete Collapse of Bryan Pitton

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 16, 2009 10:01 AM MDT

With Andrew Perugini injured, the Stockton Thunder have been forced to turn to Bryan Pitton in goal. It's been a disaster. Here are Pitton's statistics, since replacing Perugini mid-way through Game 1 of the playoffs:

1-2-0, 5.00 GAA, .826 SV%

Bryan Pitton had decent, if unspectacular numbers in junior but hasn't taken a step forward this season; the adjustment to professional hockey has been brutal. Fortunately for him (and unfortunately for Andrew Perugini, since it probably reduces his chances of getting a contract), he has two seasons left on his three year NHL entry-level contract.

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It’s the playoffs so the Oilers can’t send them Dany Sabourin?

by raventalon40 on Apr 16, 2009 11:28 AM MDT reply actions

No.

NHL veterans cannot be assigned to the ECHL. I think the ECHL does some kind of playoff roster lock anyway, so I don’t think they could even get a guy like Devan Dubnyk except on an emergency basis.

It's only my opinion, but it's right.

Writer for The Copper & Blue, OilersNation, and CanucksArmy.

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 16, 2009 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions

Well it would be some sort of emergency considering Pitton has no backup? Or is it Glenn FIsher?

by raventalon40 on Apr 16, 2009 12:11 PM MDT reply actions

Never mind, he’s playing in L Vegas. So who is Pitton’s backup anyway?

by raventalon40 on Apr 16, 2009 12:11 PM MDT reply actions

Is Van Buskirk the backup plan?

by raventalon40 on Apr 16, 2009 12:13 PM MDT reply actions

It’s nice to see that the AHL took pity on Springfield and allowed them to play in the ECHL playoffs.

As an aside, one season does not a career make. There’s every opportunity that next season is a polar opposite of this one. Don’t make me bring up Liam Reddox.

by doritogrande on Apr 16, 2009 1:06 PM MDT reply actions

Please bring up Liam Reddox!

by raventalon40 on Apr 16, 2009 1:56 PM MDT up reply actions

I was at the game last night

The entire team appeared to be on cruise control 90% of the time. It was an embarrassing performance in front of a dedicated fanbase.

Regarding Pitton, here is the breakdown on the five Ontario goals, as I remember it.

1 @ 8:56 of the 1st period. Ontario player left wide open in the high slot for the one timer. Not much Pitton could do. Good shot.

2 @ :42 of the 2nd Period. Awkward carom off the neutral zone halfboards picked up by Ontario player who skates in, but is pushed to the perimeter by Thunder defender. It was a low percentage shot from beyond the hashmarks that beat Pitton glove side. Weak goal.

3 @ 4:58 of the 3rd period. Pitton made the initial kicksave, but deflected the puck right up the gut where it deflected off a Thunder defender rushing back to cover. Weak, unlucky goal.

4 @ 10:23 of the 3rd period. The Thunder were once again on the PK and scrambling to cover. Pitton dropped to the butterfly, but a weak wrister clipped off his toe and across the goal line, just inside the far post. Pitton jerked his head back, shouting a flurry of obscenities I’m sure. Weak goal.

5 @ 17:33 of the 3rd period. Another PK for the listless Thunder. The puck was knuckling and flipped onto the stick of an Ontario player who still managed to snipe it past Pitton. Good shot.

Here is the ‘09 Kelly Cup playoffs save percentage leaders: STATS
- Glenn Fisher sits 5th at.938% in 2gp for the Flames’ affiliate
- Pitton is 18th at .826% in 3gp

not cool.

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Apr 16, 2009 3:34 PM MDT reply actions

Thank You!

It’s great to see a breakdown like that (feel free to drop by any time and put up a fan post like this!) and it sort of fits with Pitton’s season as a whole. I’ve got to think there’s more there than he’s shown this season, even if it isn’t much more.

It's only my opinion, but it's right.

Writer for The Copper & Blue, OilersNation, and CanucksArmy.

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 16, 2009 5:05 PM MDT up reply actions

You're welcome : )

It’s too bad TC&B didn’t join the SBnation party till the 11th hour, otherwise I would have been happy to provide regular updates from the Double-A farm. As it stands, this season appears on the brink and it’s still uncertain whether the affiliation will continue.

For now, some more ‘breaking news’:
For tonight’s contest, Pitton has been benched in favor of emergency back-up Parker Van Buskirk (who was signed after Perugini went down)

There’s really not much more to say.

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Apr 17, 2009 4:07 PM MDT up reply actions

Wow.

When did this happen? Word from Matt Thomas was that Pitton would start.

It's only my opinion, but it's right.

Writer for The Copper & Blue, OilersNation, and CanucksArmy.

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 17, 2009 4:44 PM MDT up reply actions

It was announced today via media relations

apparently Thomas is giving Pitton a ‘breather’

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Apr 17, 2009 5:05 PM MDT up reply actions

Glenn Fisher is in the Flames system now???!!! This is becoming something of a pattern.

by raventalon40 on Apr 16, 2009 4:04 PM MDT reply actions

Fisher...

signed an AHL contract for the 2008-09 season and attended the Oilers summer prospect camp. He wasn’t seeing enough playing time in Springfield and because rookies Pitton and Perugini were already in Stockton, they opted to send Fisher to the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Las Vegas is the Calgary Flames ‘AA’ affiliate, who also happen to be a division rival of the Stockton Thunder. It’s a tangled web we weave.

I'm a happy seal

by SwisherThresher on Apr 16, 2009 4:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Indded.

by raventalon40 on Apr 17, 2009 2:15 AM MDT reply actions

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