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Give the net to Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 3 |
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Goalie Robin Lehner doesn't bear much responsibility for the Vegas Golden Knights' loss in Game 2. The Vancouver Canucks won that game because their top players rose up. Plus, the Canucks blocked 40 shots.
Lehner was more of a victim than a guilty party.
It was an impressive win by the Canucks. Having the ghost of Georges Vezina between the pipes would not have helped the Golden Knights on this night. Elias Pettersson scored on a sweet move, and there was nothing Lehner could do on Tyler Toffoli's goal. Someone left the backdoor open.
The Canucks gave a complete demonstration of how to win an NHL postseason game by using hard work, determination and skill.
But even though Lehner shouldn't be blamed for the Game 2, Marc-Andre Fleury should get the Vegas net for Game 3.
Using a goalie switch to provide a spark to a team is a time-honored NHL tradition, and it makes more sense here because Fleury has a history of memorable playoff performances. He's also the most popular player on the team.
You can argue that Lehner (6-2, 2.34, .909) has been the better goalie since he was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks. But he can't match Fleury's playoff pedigree. Never mind Fleury's three Stanley Cup rings. Just remember that two years ago he took the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.
The other issue here is that Fleury will be in Vegas another two seasons, and Lehner is a rental. He's going to be a highly desirable unrestricted free agent.
What that all means is that Fleury is still the Golden Knights' No. 1 goalie
That's not an issue that will be front and center because coach Pete DeBoer is going to choose the goalie that gives him the best chance of winning Game 3. He can't factor in the other issue. But it's impossible in professional not to think about the future, even when you are trying to win in the present.
This is probably not an easy decision to make because Lehner has looked sharp wearing the Vegas sweater. It doesn't help that Fleury has an .886 save percentage in two appearances this post season. But Lehner gave up two goals in the first four shots in Game 2. The situation is also complicated because Fleury's agent Allan Walsh tweeted a picture of Fleury with sword, with DeBoer's name on it, sticking out of his back.
According to Fleury, he had nothing to do with the decision to publish that photo. He asked his Walsh to take it down.
Walsh's message was ill-advised, but Fleury deserves a chance to win his net back. The Golden Knights could be the beneficiary of a super-charged Fleury looking to remind everyone that he's still The Golden Knights No. 1 goalie.
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • 
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