Statistics often lie in hockey, generally because they fail to present a complete picture. Comparing one goaltender's stats against another's without taking into account the quality of the defense in front of them will nearly always result in a distorted picture. It's comparing apples to orangutans.

But when two goaltenders playing for the same exact team are placed under the microscope, significant statistical differences simply cannot be ignored. And when NHL GMs and coaches fail to acknowledge this simple reality, the results can be disastrous.

Last season, the Detroit Red Wings essentially utilized two netminders, Manny Legace and Chris Osgood. Playing behind the exact same roster, Legace posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.19 goals-against average, while Osgood's numbers (.897 SV%, 2.76 GAA) were far inferior. Yet despite this overwhelmingly convincing statistical evidence, the Wings made the decision to bring Osgood back, while allowing Legace to sign with the Wings' division rivals, the St. Louis Blues.

While Legace has gotten off to a disappointing start with the rebuilding Blues, that is more due to the inexperienced defense in front of him than it is a reflection of Legace's ability to stop the puck. And the Wings, relying on Osgood and the injury-prone Dominik Hasek, are nowhere near the dominant team they were last season, when Legace compiled a spectacular 37-8 record. The losses of Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman have hurt, for certain, but Hasek and Osgood's combined .892 save percentage is certainly not helping.

Out in Los Angeles, a similar scenario is playing itself out this season. The Kings acquired Dan Cloutier from the Canucks over the summer, believing that he'd be an upgrade over both Mathieu Garon and Jason LaBarbera. But if the performances of Cloutier and Garon through the first 14 games of 2006-07 are any indication, the Kings would've done better to leave Cloutier in Vancouver.

In seven games thus far this season, Garon has compiled a .941 save percentage, a 1.72 goals-against average, and a 3-2-1 record. In startingly sharp contrast, Cloutier's numbers (.879, 3.44, 1-6-1) are a major reason why the Kings find themselves closer to the bottom of the Western Conference standings (10th out of 15 teams) than the top.

This situation bears watching over the next few weeks, for if Garon does in fact take over the starting job for good—and if he keeps playing at a high level—the Kings could be a surprise playoff contender when all is said and done.