Johnson makes his case to start
Calgary native’s stretch of stellar goaltending has hometown buzzing
It’s a numbers game. For followers of the Calgary Flames, like folks in every hockey-mad market, there’s always an insistence on anointing a No. 1 netminder, a go-to goalie, a king of the crease. Platoon? Boring. A puck stopping pecking order is tasty fodder for discussion, great fuel for debate.
“There are only a couple of (opinions), really, that matter — the head coach, our organization,” said Flames goalie Chad Johnson after Thursday’s practice in Boston, the fourth stop on a marathon sixgame road trip for the crew from Calgary.
“If that night I’m the No. 1 guy and that means I’m playing, then I’m happy, And the more, the better. The outside people — analysts, media, fans ... I mean, their highs and lows are crazy in that kind of world. People love you one day and they move on the next.
“I obviously want to be in net every night and I want to be able to be relied upon and I want the organization to think that I’m the guy, that I’m the best opportunity to win hockey games.
“And that’s really all that matters — in that locker-room and in the organization. Everyone else, I really can’t control and it really doesn’t matter. For me, my mindset is just to try to play every night and earn every start and try to win hockey games and just feel good about my game.”
Right now, the 30-year-old Johnson is certainly feeling good about his game. If he wasn’t, you’d have to send him to the quiet room for a checkup.
After all, Johnson has surrendered a grand total of six goals in his past five starts, backstopping the Flames to four victories over that stellar stretch. He delivered a 34-save shutout Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, his second goose egg of the season.
Back in his hometown of Calgary, he’s also winning over most of the judges in the court of public puckstopping opinion.
Shortly after putting his troops through an intense practice at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, shortly after heaping praise on the crashers and bangers on what has been an effective fourth line, Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan stickhandled Thursday around a question about Calgary’s twineminding hierarchy.
“I don’t want to get into numbers,” Gulutzan said. “But right now, Johnny is playing really well and Johnny deserves starts. If we’re talking about the fourth line earning extra minutes or Micheal Ferland playing on the power play a little bit, Johnny has earned some time to play here.
“And that’s a good thing. I like it to be more of a competition. These are the most competitive athletes you can get, and it’s good to have a little competition. But Johnny has earned, with his good play, some starts here.” Sure has. Johnson will be back between the pipes for Friday’s clash with the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (5:30 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), his 11th assignment of the season.
Brian Elliott, acquired in a draftday trade and billed as the fix to the Flames’ crease concerns, has made a dozen starts.
Other than appearances, the stats aren’t similar.
Johnson? A 6-3-1 record, 2.08 goals-against average and .922 save percentage. Pretty good bang for your buck after inking a one-year, US$1.7-million deal on Canada Day.
And Elliott? He’s 3-9-0, with a 3.43 GAA and stopping just 88.2 per cent of shots fired his way.
The 31-year-old Elliott has been the victim of some dreadful defensive performances, but it’s understandable that fans and followers are wondering aloud if the local lad has wrestled away the top job.
“On any team, you want to start off well and you want to earn the confidence of the fans and the organization and your teammates, especially,” Johnson said. “And to be able to do it at home, I said right from the start that I have so much passion for this organization and this city and the fans. There’s no reason for me not to be motivated. I want to see the team do well and that was motivation for me to come back — to be able to have control of that.
“It’s exciting that people are happy, I guess, and that things are going w ell. But it’s a long season. For our team, for myself, you just want to keep it going. Consistency is the most important thing.”