Goaltending Controversy? Where?!

What would the National Hockey League be like if there were no controversial season-hinging decisions made about the most critical of all position on the professional hockey rink? No, not if I should get the hot chocolate or the hamburger, but who is the starting goaltender and who sits on the bench?

Like a return to writing about hockey, Jonas Gustavsson's return may plant the seeds to controversy down the road.

The controversy I refer to is not the garden variety store version being played out in Vancouver with Olympic hero Roberto Luongo and fan favourite Cory Schneider, who is in his contract year with the Canucks organization and looking to make a statement with exemplary away performances against the San Jose Sharks (W 3-2) and Cup champion Boston Bruins (W 4-3). No, the unknown controversy bug rears its head in Toronto of all places! o_O

While they languish in ninth place in the playoff hunt and are without the oft-injured James Reimer, the Maple Leafs turn to former Swedish sensation Jonas Gustavsson, in part because there is no one else on the bench to block shots and make glove saves. Well, there is Ben Scrivens of the Marlies, but he is not ready yet o_O Under a steady barrage of 30+ shots per game from top NHL opponents, Jonas Gustavsson surprised many keeping the Maple Leafs in the playoff hunt. Nevertheless, Leafs general manager Brian Burke insists the team can do much better, their goals remain high, and the playoff campaign will be long and not just "one and done". Aside from losing spells, as is common with the post-lockout era Maple Leafs, Jonas Gustavsson had to play to get back on the team. The bus rides and motel stays with the Maple Leafs' AHL farm team, the Toronto Marlies, helped and not hindered Gustavsson's resolve to improve and perform, albeit with a one game over 500 record in twenty four games so far this season.

Leafs coach Ron Wilson wants to play the "hot hand", but do you wait until the hand falls off before making a change? How does one stop being "hot": Do they need to lose one game, three in succession, or make it so the Maple Leafs are once again mathematically out of the running for the playoffs? I'm not the head coach, but I trust Wilson will see the signs of wear and tear early before the spring and the next tee off time.


NHL TONIGHT?

NHL Tonight = NHL on the FLY = Basically the same hockey reports a la TSN style. I expected highlight packages, in-depth interviews, and debate as commonly found on the NFL Network, but I was sadly mistaken :( Perhaps that's why I'm more into football than ever before, and I don't write about the National Football League!