When Should Garon Start?
Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins
Apr 1, 03:36 PM | Hype this story!
It’s almost a given that Mathieu Garon will start one of the two games this weekend. He needs the work, and the Pens have back-to-back road games against Carolina Saturday and Florida on Sunday. The question then becomes, in which game do you start Garon?
The Pens are locked in tight races with both teams. They are trying to overtake Carolina for fifth place in the conference. The Hurricanes have been as hot as the Pens recently, with a record of 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. That’s the same as the Penguins. The Hurricanes play their next four at home, then finish on the road at New Jersey.
Florida, on the other hand, is chasing Pittsburgh (among others) for a playoff spot. They have struggled down the stretch, going 4-4-2 over their last 10. They have three of their last five at home, and play the Thrashers twice.
Assuming that Garon will play against one of these teams, which one should it be? “Tradition” states that you play your top guy against the better team. That would be Carolina. But is that the right thing to do? Not necessarily. You also have to look at the potential impact in the standings.
Going in, because of Garon’s rust, it is more likely that the Pens would struggle to win the game he starts more than the one Marc-Andre Fleury would start. So which game would losing hurt less?
If they lose to Carolina, that would virtually wrap up the fifth seed for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes’ opponent in the first round of the playoffs would almost certainly be the Flyers. On the other hand, the team finishing sixth will face either Washington or New Jersey. With the Devils struggling and Washington’s shaky goaltending, either option seems more palatable. If they lose to Florida, it brings the Panthers right back into the hunt and means the Pens would be a bit closer to missing the playoffs. They would still be pretty likely to make it, but the risk would be higher.
So, all in all, it looks like the best way to rotate the goalies would be to go with Garon Saturday against Carolina and Fleury Sunday against Florida. You lose Saturday, and you end up playing New Jersey or Washington rather than Philadelphia. You lose Sunday, and it’s possible the only opponent you’ll be battling come playoff time will be par.
Comments
Jesse Marshall
Apr 1, 03:50 PM
You don’t. He doesn’t need the work and Fleury doesn’t need the break.
These aren’t games that we can throw away by starting Garon in goal. He looked absolutely atrocious against Atlanta and he would surely struggle against either opponent this weekend.
It’s time we trust Fleury, Garon never sees the net again for the rest of the year.
Tim Kurnocik
Apr 1, 03:56 PM
I agree. You look at Kippers in Calgary, and he never gets games off. Kevin Weekes doesn’t get much work when Brodeur is healthy. Is Fleury in worse shape or less durable than those goaltenders? A couple of freak injuries have caused Fleury to miss time over the last 2 years, but he’s proven very durable other than that.
If you really want to get Garon in net, wait until the Islanders game on the 9th (if we have a playoff spot locked by then). Otherwise, I agree with Jesse that he should shine the pine the rest of the way out.
Mike Adams
Apr 1, 04:09 PM
@ Jesse, He didn’t start against Atlanta. He started against Boston and won, though he certainly didn’t play particularly well. But Boston is better than either Carolina or Florida.
My bigger point was that I’d rather they lost to Carolina anyway and let them get beat up by the Flyers in the first round. I’d rather take my chances with NJ or Washington.
Jesse Marshall
Apr 1, 04:33 PM
@ Mike – You’re right, Boston. My mistake.
My point is that we’re 3 points out of a playoff spot. I don’t want to drop any games until we get to about 94 or 95 points.
Justin Murphy
Apr 1, 04:38 PM
If I had to choose, I would definitely choose the Carolina game, for all the reason that you stated, Mike. However, I would rather not start him period. He just had a start and probably won’t start any games in the playoffs. As much as I would love to see Fleury play the rest and into the playoffs, I would understand a rest period for MAF. I would rather give Fleury time off after we locked it up.
Justin
www.everythingpittsburgh.net
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Apr 1, 05:26 PM
I have a mixed opinion. As someone else stated, other top goalies don’t get breaks. Now what that same individual didn’t state was the last time one of those goalies won the Stanley Cup. Calgary and SJ both usually play their goalies the majority of the season and both teams usually fall out early in the playoffs. So with that being said how can you use that as a defense to start MAF in the remaining games.
On the other hand, a playoff spot is not guaranteed and losing any games hurts the chances.
Personally I would risk the loses but I would probably due it against Florida and NYI. Florida has been struggling to score, so I would hope that would work in our favor. I think two games off at this time of year could be a good thing in lasting the entire playoff run and remaining somewhat fresher than others.
Gregor
Apr 1, 06:08 PM
Fleury’s had a lot of rest this week, and will get a few more days in after tonight.
he’s had plenty of rest. The pens need the points, so I’d start him both games.
Garon will get some time in next week when they’re playing every other day, hopefully after a playoff spot is clinched.
Tim Kurnocik
Apr 1, 06:18 PM
Surge: Thanks for not calling me out by name! ha You make a great point, though. I don’t, however, think that those teams failing to win a Cup has to do with Brodeur or Kiprusoff. Brodeur proved that he could win a Cup in 2002-2003 after starting in all but 9 regular season games. Is Fleury on Brodeur’s level? Well maybe not in terms of skill, but the Penguins drafted him to anchor their team. That includes playing back-to-back games if it means saving their season.
bag o' pucks
Apr 1, 07:34 PM
My plan for the rest of the season would be:
@Carolina: Fleury
@Florida: Fleury
@Tampa: Garon
v.NYI: Fleury
@Montreal: Fleury
Normally, I dislike starting a goalie in back-to-backs, but with only one game in the six days prior I wouldn’t object to the back-to-back in this situation. With Garon in net Tuesday, that would also give Fleury an extra day of rest after the weekend.
Of course, this would just be the plan. An injury or particularly poor play changes things.
Pens1967
Apr 1, 09:56 PM
Considering that Bylsma has continually said he plans to play Boucher and hasn’t, I don’t think he’ll play Garon either.
As a side note, the trades Shero made this year have worked out pretty well, but the trade of Sabu for Garon hasn’t. Based on the way both have played, I’d be really scared if Garon had to play a meaningful game. Sabourin might not have been able to go a long stretch as a starter, but he was a competent back up.
Doc Nagel
Apr 1, 11:26 PM
I think you play Garon in one of these games, not to give Fleury a rest, but to give the team one last chance to play in front of him during a game, before the playoffs. If Fleury twists an ankle, or anything, having a bit more time playing with Garon in net gives the rest of the team a bit more experience with him, and one hopes a bit more confidence playing with him.
anthony
Apr 2, 12:41 AM
should garon have played the 3rd period of tonite’s game?
or would that have interferred with fleury receiving the win?
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Apr 2, 01:15 AM
@Tim, I was just kind of busy at work and was taking a moment to clear my head. I didn’t want to look back up to see who it was. Its not that I disagree I just don’t think its a good thing to play a goalie that much and not be surprised if he faulters because of being fatigued. Last year several of these goalies who play a lot, ended up losing in the first round. Detroit who didn’t really have a #1 all season, won the cup with two decent goalies. Again neither case is a sure thing but personally I would like to have a little rested MAF than an exhausted MAF. I think with the win today you will see MAF on Saturday. They want to beat the teams above them, simply to build that confidence that they can’t be beat right now. Ofcourse Carolina isn’t above them but they are playing like one of the teams to beat.
saintjust21
Apr 2, 03:46 PM
neither game.
we have a game left against the lightning. if there is a game left that you actually dress Garon for, its that one.
Tim
Apr 3, 04:19 PM
I say you start Fleury Saturday against the Canes. Then see how he feels Sunday. Tired or soar, or poor play or anything like that, send Garon out there against FLA. After that, no more back-to-backs so I don’t see Bylsma starting Garon except just to get him another game, and then only if the Pens are locked into a spot and a 1st round opponent.
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