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Anthony Gharib, ESPN
The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs have arrived, meaning playoff beards, handshake lines and goalie masks with unique designs are in the spotlight.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, goaltenders haven’t been shy about sporting special looks.
With the franchise in its 100th season, Boston Bruins goalies Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark have worn masks to commemorate the mark. Toronto Maple Leafs starter Ilya Samsonov similarly paid homage to franchise legends. New York Rangers netminder Jonathan Quick had a Statue of Liberty tribute on one of his masks.
But that’s just a small taste. Here’s a look at the notable masks worn by goalies whose teams will appear in the postseason (with the caveat that some of the special ones probably won’t come out during the playoffs).
Eastern Conference
Swayman headed into the season with an idea of honoring the Bruins’ 100th anniversary season. Designed by Swedish artist David Gunnarsson, the forehead has a design of the Bruins bear with “100” included inside of it, among other details.
There have been multiple tributes scattered throughout the season on masks worn by Ullmark. One of his earliest focuses on two famous goals in Bruins history, one by Bobby Orr in Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Final and the other by Patrice Bergeron in Game 7 of the 2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Ullmark also had a sweet mask that paid homage to legendary Boston goalie Gerry Cheevers.
A legendary lid.@Icebeardude‘s gear for tonight’s #NHLBruins Centennial celebration is a nod to Gerry Cheevers’ iconic mask. pic.twitter.com/6VWBuxnqKI
— x – Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 18, 2023
It’s been familiar designs for Bobrovsky with his “brick by brick” series. His purple look is one of the more unique this season, especially since it differs from the usual color palette of the Panthers.
Woll hasn’t been shy with his masks this season. He had a special one made for St. Patrick’s Day that includes a tribute to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Ireland. Specific portions of the cathedral are part of the design, including a replica of the stained glass window of St. Patrick.
Woll also has an eagle-themed look that’s a nod to his NCAA career at Boston College.
Samsonov’s tribute to the Maple Leafs is one of the sweetest. It includes the faces and numbers of all the players with retired numbers and a big maple leaf in the middle.
If you’re a fan of teeth, the “Savage Baddy” mask for Samsonov is a no-brainer. The 3D creates a look that pops — and is somewhat terrifying.
In past seasons, Vasilevskiy has worn masks that change colors based on temperatures. Although it’s unclear whether he had any that included that design element this season, his third-jersey-themed mask is one of the sleekest. Designed by Sylvie Marsolais, it includes the coat of arms of Russia, where Vasilevskiy is from, and an animal with fangs.
No surprise, but the Statue of Liberty is a common inclusion for Rangers goalies. Shesterkin had a Stadium Series look that featured the statue, plus a retro-inspired mask that mixes 3D and 2D.
Quick has been a longtime customer of Gunnarsson’s and had some clean looks this season. With the Rangers facing the rival Islanders at MetLife Stadium for the Stadium Series, Quick’s mask included images of four legendary New York Giants stars — Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Eli Manning and Michael Strahan.
Through the years, Andersen’s masks have become known for their inclusion of Lego figures. His latest follows a Danish brick Viking theme and also includes the Hurricanes’ logo and Andersen’s number.
Kochetkov pays homage to his hometown of Penza, Russia, in this design. Elements of the city are scattered throughout the mask, and the red complements it all, making it a solid mask for the playoffs.
Sorokin’s masks are full of the Islanders’ colors, including a fun tribute to Long Island and a Stadium Series look that pops.
The graffiti theme of Varlamov’s mask stands out immediately. It includes “Long Island” sprayed across the top and “NY” on the cheeks to create a standout look.
Unsurprisingly, the Capitals’ colors are prominent in Lindgren’s clean look. Lindgren’s nickname “Lindy” is included below the mouth of the mask, and a painted bald eagle is drawn on the top.
Kuemper followed suit with a Capitals-heavy mask. The bald eagle is painted in a different style but is included in a similar location to Lindgren’s. On the back of Kuemper’s mask, there’s a Christian cross with the words “for those I love” below it.
Western Conference
This mask has multiple inclusions that are unique to Oettinger — references to Oettinger’s friends, a throwback Stars logo and an otter.
Talk about versatility. Georgiev has worn masks with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a retro 2D look of the Avalanche’s third jersey and one that pays tribute to the silver mining days of Colorado. He has a lot to work with heading into the postseason.
The color variance is notable for Hellebuyck. Designed by the Eyecandyair brand, his masks include different shades of blue that match the Jets’ uniforms. Come playoff time, Hellebuyck has a solid group from which to choose.
There’s a clear theme with some of Saros’ top masks that dates back to 2022. It’s a series called “Pred Rogue Rage Splatter,” assisted by Gunnarsson. The Predators’ logo and colors are, unsurprisingly, a prominent part of the designs.
Demko often puts movie characters on the back of his masks. The most recent inclusion is Jacobim Mugatu, the popular character played by Will Ferrell in the 2001 film “Zoolander.” Designed by Travis Michael, it’s a clean look that will help him stand out in the postseason.
DeSmith rocks a multicolored mask with primarily green on one side, blue on the other, the colors of the Canucks.
Skinner’s top masks are contrasting in style but similar in color. One of them is a heritage design that leans toward a retro look. The other includes a splatter in orange and the Edmonton skyline.
The Oilers’ goalie No. 2 has a sleek oil drop design with some nice additions scattered throughout.
Artist Dave Fried crushed Hill’s masks, giving him a wide variety to work with in the postseason. The Winter Classic mask has arguably the most detail, and the look that includes a tribute to Las Vegas fans is a nice touch.
Thompson’s designs fit the Golden Knights’ colors perfectly. As with Hill, the Winter Classic mask for Thompson is a unique look, with ears painted on the sides.
Talbot has worked with Gunnarsson for a long time, but his Will Ferrell-themed masks are arguably the best.
It seemed like a no-brainer for Talbot to have a mask with Ferrell on it since the actor is a frequent attendee at Kings games. Ferrell kicks up the fandom during playoff time, meaning it wouldn’t hurt for Talbot to wear one that honors the actor.
Color coordination is key for Rittich, who has worn a chrome and black 3D look this season. Either one would fit seamlessly in his postseason rotation.
Source: www.espn.com