Video: Andrew Raycroft's blind robbery of Lee Stempniak
Andrew Raycroft(notes) has been a serviceable backup to Roberto Luongo(notes) for the Vancouver Canucks this season. Appearing in 17 games and starting 11 of them, the 2004 Calder Trophy winner has posted a 7-4-1 record having been mostly used on the road. Only three times this season has Raycroft played in front of the fans at Canada Hockey Place GM Place. That's why it's fitting that he's closed out Vancouver's monster 14-game road trip Wednesday night in Phoenix during a 4-3 shootout loss to the Coyotes. The Canucks finish their trip with an 8-5-1 record but with the Colorado Avalanche still lurking in the Northwest Division standings.
As for Raycroft, just minutes into the Canucks' final road game before returning home on Saturday night, he went all Dominik Hasek(notes) on Coyotes forward Lee Stempniak(notes) for a "Save of the Year" contender:
The entire lower bowl was on their feet thinking Stempniak had scored. Oh, you precious Coyotes fans. Poor Raycroft had you thinking it was 1-0 until he turned into Spider-Man for a second.
Stempniak would later get his revenge on Raycroft, scoring twice and adding a goal during the six-round shootout. With the victory, Phoenix inches closer towards the playoffs and having head coach Dave Tippett's earn this season's Jack Adams Award.
