Arturs Irbe is a former professional ice hockey goaltender from Latvia who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He began his career in the Soviet Union, playing for Dinamo Riga before moving to Sweden to play for Jonstorp IK. In 1991, he signed with the San Jose Sharks and became the team's starting goaltender.
Irbe quickly became a fan favorite in San Jose, known for his acrobatic saves and his unorthodox style of play. He helped lead the Sharks to their first playoff appearance in 1994, where they upset the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the first round. Irbe's performance in that series, including a 55-save effort in Game 7, earned him the nickname "The Latvian Wall."
After four seasons in San Jose, Irbe signed with the Dallas Stars in 1996. He played just one season in Dallas before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he spent two seasons as the team's backup goaltender. In 1999, he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes and became the team's starting goaltender.
Irbe had his best season in 1999-2000, when he led the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals. He posted a 1.67 goals against average and a .938 save percentage in the playoffs, but the Hurricanes lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Finals. Irbe was named to the NHL All-Star Game that season and finished third in voting for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's top goaltender.
Irbe played two more seasons in Carolina before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2002. He played just one season in Columbus before returning to Carolina for one final season in 2003-04. He retired from professional hockey after that season.
In his NHL career, Irbe played in 568 games and posted a record of 218-241-71. He had a career goals against average of 2.83 and a save percentage of .899. He also played in 43 playoff games, posting a record of 18-25 with a 2.57 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.
Irbe was known for his durability and his work ethic, often playing through injuries and practicing longer than his teammates. He was also known for his quirky personality, including his habit of talking to his goalposts during games.
After retiring from hockey, Irbe became a goaltending coach and worked with several NHL teams, including the Washington Capitals, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Anaheim Ducks. He also served as the goaltending coach for the Latvian national team and helped lead them to a surprising quarterfinal appearance in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Overall, Irbe's career was defined by his toughness, his unorthodox style of play, and his ability to make acrobatic saves. He was a fan favorite in San Jose and Carolina, and his performance in the 1999-2000 season remains one of the best by a goaltender in NHL history.
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