Goalies have new BFF
Carlyle’s defence-first approach could be a tonic for Gustavsson and Reimer
Randy Carlyle won’t say that Jonas Gustavsson is starting Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins.
Gustavsson is, by the way. James Reimer let that piece of information slip.
It’s not that Carlyle is trying to hide anything or play games with the media.
“I’m superstitious,” said Carlyle. “This is the way I look at goaltending: We make a decision as a coaching staff to put the goaltender in who’s going to give us the best chance for success.
“The goaltender that plays is not expected to go out and be our saviour.
“He’s expected to give us a chance to win. That’s what we ask.
“If there’s one guy that separates himself and becomes more consistent at doing that, then I would suggest he is most likely to get the net.”
If any of the Leafs have anything to gain from a change in coaching, it’s Gustavsson and Reimer.
Carlyle is a defence-first kind of guy. That emphasis on taking care of your own end first stands in stark contrast to Ron Wilson’s run-andgun style that — while exciting to watch — left the goalies on their own more often than not.
“Obviously, if you want to win, you have to be defensively sound,” said Reimer. “You look at any team in the league, if you want to have success, it’s keeping the puck out of your net.
“The big thing for him is defence first. A good defensive team is a goalie’s delight. I think we’re really working on a lot of things to make us better. Over time, hopefully a short time, we can really perfect those things and win a lot of games.”
Neither goalie was having the kind of year that instills confidence in a team. Neither was willing to blame Wilson, his style or his teammates. But it may well have been that those were square pegs Wilson was trying to hammer into those round holes.
Defence first, while more boring to watch, may be the best way of providing stability.
“Everybody practises defensivezone coverage. Everybody practises neutral-ice defensive schemes,” said Carlyle after a nearly two-hour workout. . . . . “It just might be a little different from what the previous coaching staff put in place. We’re going to focus on being more conservative as far as giving people up in the offensive zone.”
A more conservative approach should translate into fewer oddman rushes, fewer good scoring chances and fewer goals against. Gustavsson said he’s happy no matter what scheme his teammates play in front of him
“I’m a goalie. I just have to stop the pucks,” said Gustavsson. “To be honest, I don’t really care, if we play offensive style, or defensive style. As long as we score one more goal than the other team, I’m happy.” The coaching change should also be good news for Luke Schenn and Mike Komisarek, two hard-hitting defencemen who seem more at home with Carlyle’s mind-yourown-end philosophy than Wilson’s demand that defence join the rush. “Those players have to have that physical element to be effective. That’s part of their strengths,” said Carlyle. “It’s no different than Jake Gardiner. If he doesn’t skate and move the puck effectively, he’s not an effective player. If Komisarek and Schenn are not physical, they’re not effective players.” For Komisarek, it’s a second chance to make a first impression. “He’s a defenceman, he’s a Norris Trophy winner,” Komisarek said of Carlyle. “All the defence have already learned a couple of things. It’s a clean slate, a fresh start. “You want to be a key piece to a playoff team. You never want to be a passenger.” Komisarek was a frequent healthy scratch for Wilson. Schenn had seen his minutes diminish while frequently ending up as a whipping boy. “It’s good so far,” said Schenn. “Everyone is excited now and kind of refreshed and buying into his philosophy.” The most excited may be Carlyle, who broke into the NHL with the Maple Leafs and has a ton of wellwishers trying to get tickets for Tuesday’s game. “Once the puck drops, there might be a few butterflies as there was against Montreal,” said the Sudbury native. “I didn’t realize I had so many friends that had the area code 416, 905 and 647.”