Maple Leafs looking shaky in goal

Habsfan84 · October 2nd, 2007, 01:22 PM

Vesa Toskala or Andrew Raycroft?
It is a question Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been asking all summer. But do not look to Paul Maurice for an answer.
Toronto begins the regular season against the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night, and the team's head coach might end up flipping a coin to decide which goaltender will start in goal.

"I've got it narrowed down to two," Maurice said, tongue planted firmly in cheek.
The decision to name a No. 1 goaltender is difficult for one reason: neither Toskala nor Raycroft has played well enough in training camp to establish himself as the clear favourite.
In his first two starts in a Leafs uniform, Toskala allowed a combined 10 goals and was booed both times by the Air Canada Centre crowds. The 30-year-old finished with a 0-3 preseason record and a bloated 4.69 goals-against average.
Raycroft, who went 2-0-1 with a 3.31 goals-against average, was slightly better. But the 27-year-old still has a tendency to give up at least one soft goal per game.
No wonder Maurice, when speaking of his past experience in working with tandems, said he does not always rely on the statistics.
"The only time it becomes a difficulty is when you've got two goaltenders and neither one is really going," he said. "At that time as a coach you're making a decision on gut feeling alone."
Toskala would appear to have the advantage over Raycroft, simply because he was general manager John Ferguson's splashy acquisition this summer.
But Maurice said Toskala's two-year, $10-million U.S. contract extension would not influence the decision.
"John wants the goaltender in the net to stop the puck," he said. "The name on the back of his jersey has nothing to do with it. I'll make the decision on who starts (tomorrow) night."
Regardless of who gets the start for the opener, Toskala and Raycroft are expected to share the goaltending duties over the next 82 NHL games

GLG · October 2nd, 2007, 09:27 PM

Preseason doesn't mean much, IMO.

Habsfan84 · October 3rd, 2007, 01:13 PM

it means something. I dont know why raycroft has got all the blame when on most nights he looked good last season. I really dont know why sundin got very little blame when he was no where during the leafs push for the playoffs.

GLG · October 5th, 2007, 09:32 PM

Hey, everyone has a slump. Plus, he wasn't 100% healthy during that time either.

I do agree that Raycroft got more blame than he deserved, though.

Habsfan84 · October 6th, 2007, 10:17 AM

I think Toskala will get the start in Toronto against the HABS

October 2nd, 2007, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Habsfan84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,598	Maple Leafs looking shaky in goal Vesa Toskala or Andrew Raycroft? It is a question Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been asking all summer. But do not look to Paul Maurice for an answer. Toronto begins the regular season against the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night, and the team's head coach might end up flipping a coin to decide which goaltender will start in goal. "I've got it narrowed down to two," Maurice said, tongue planted firmly in cheek. The decision to name a No. 1 goaltender is difficult for one reason: neither Toskala nor Raycroft has played well enough in training camp to establish himself as the clear favourite. In his first two starts in a Leafs uniform, Toskala allowed a combined 10 goals and was booed both times by the Air Canada Centre crowds. The 30-year-old finished with a 0-3 preseason record and a bloated 4.69 goals-against average. Raycroft, who went 2-0-1 with a 3.31 goals-against average, was slightly better. But the 27-year-old still has a tendency to give up at least one soft goal per game. No wonder Maurice, when speaking of his past experience in working with tandems, said he does not always rely on the statistics. "The only time it becomes a difficulty is when you've got two goaltenders and neither one is really going," he said. "At that time as a coach you're making a decision on gut feeling alone." Toskala would appear to have the advantage over Raycroft, simply because he was general manager John Ferguson's splashy acquisition this summer. But Maurice said Toskala's two-year, $10-million U.S. contract extension would not influence the decision. "John wants the goaltender in the net to stop the puck," he said. "The name on the back of his jersey has nothing to do with it. I'll make the decision on who starts (tomorrow) night." Regardless of who gets the start for the opener, Toskala and Raycroft are expected to share the goaltending duties over the next 82 NHL games __________________ FanHome Members Remember to Keep Posting on FanHome [where fans connect]. Guests Please RegisterFor Access to a Great Forum

October 2nd, 2007, 09:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
GLG Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 180	Preseason doesn't mean much, IMO. __________________ FloydianLeaf / Leaf_Fan_4_Ever 1969 - 2007 R.I.P. Michael. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

October 3rd, 2007, 01:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Habsfan84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,598	it means something. I dont know why raycroft has got all the blame when on most nights he looked good last season. I really dont know why sundin got very little blame when he was no where during the leafs push for the playoffs. __________________ FanHome Members Remember to Keep Posting on FanHome [where fans connect]. Guests Please RegisterFor Access to a Great Forum

October 5th, 2007, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
GLG Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 180	Hey, everyone has a slump. Plus, he wasn't 100% healthy during that time either. I do agree that Raycroft got more blame than he deserved, though. __________________ FloydianLeaf / Leaf_Fan_4_Ever 1969 - 2007 R.I.P. Michael. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

October 6th, 2007, 10:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Habsfan84 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 3,598	I think Toskala will get the start in Toronto against the HABS __________________ FanHome Members Remember to Keep Posting on FanHome [where fans connect]. Guests Please RegisterFor Access to a Great Forum