Well game one of the new season looked so much like last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Andrew Raycroft was decent but not spectacular. In other words not good enough to win. In the new NHL where every lineup has a mix of good and mediocre players, you need great goaltending to win. Certainly the first line of Sundin, Blake and Antropov did their part.
But what was Raycroft doing in the net in the season opener? Didn't the Leafs trade 3 draft picks for a #1 goalie and give him a contract extension of $8 million? Well coach Paul Maurice has already shown a lack of confidence in newcomer Vesa Toskala and put him on the bench last night. Although Raycroft was not outstanding in preseason, he was better than the shaky Toskala. But when the team makes a big commitment to a player like Toskala, you have to stick with him - at least for the start of the season.
So I'm sure Toskala will get the start tonight. But Maurice's plan to have some competition in net may only lead to a lack of confidence for both goalies. What if Toskala doesn't play well tonight? Does Maurice start Justin Pogge on Saturday?
Below is a video tribute to the Battle of Ontario which resumes in Ottawa tonight.
12 years ago
