Time to Send a Message

For Andrew Raycroft, it's a statement game, pure and simple.

Time to show every doubting Maple Leaf fan and observer of the hockey club that he is worthy of holding the status of the team's No. 1 goalie, both now and next year and even when and if Justin Pogge is ready to be an NHLer.

Beating Carolina is all the Leafs need to do, whether it's 1-0 or 9-8.

But for Raycroft, who has convinced pretty much no one that he is the answer in net for the Leafs this season, 1-0 would be a lot better.

There are many who would make excuses for Raycroft's inconsistencies, and some of those excuses even hold water.

This is, really, only his third full NHL season, and perhaps the ups and downs go with the learning process.

I get that.

But at this point it doesn't really matter what the reasons may or may not be.

It's time to deliver the goods.

Some would suggest that Raycroft is at a disadvantage because his team gives up more shots and scoring chances.

The stats, however, don't really bear that out. Martin Brodeur faces an average of 27.8 shots per game, and Roberto Luongo faces 29.1 shots per game.

Based on the argument that Raycroft is under siege every night, you'd expect his average night to be a 31-32 shot bombardment, right?

Nope. He sits at an average of 28.1, barely more than Brodeur and less than Luongo.

Yet his save percentage and goals-against average are so much worse.

The Leafs hope he's going to get better next season and beyond, and perhaps that will happen.

But he needs to stand up now. Tonight. This is one of four games the Leafs have left against teams they're jostling with for a playoff spot, and losing tonight would pretty much mean they'd have to finish 6-0 the rest of the way.

In that way, it's Game 7 tonight. Time for a money goalie to step forward.

Comments

[Roberto]

If the Leafs are hoping Raycroft will suddenly become Luongo or Brodeur to propel them into the playoffs then they may as well book their tee times now, because the guy just isn't good enough.
I have never seen an NHL goalie get beat, especially high glove, on shots that he can see clearly.
The old adage is for the elite goalies to get in front of them to screen them, because if they see it, they can stop it.
Not with Raycroft, he is small and very vulnerable up high.
JFJ should admit his mistake this summer and go get a guy who can provide a save % greater than .910. Otherwise the Leafs will remain a playoff bubble team forever.

[A-Mar]

I agree that if Raycroft is to win hearts and minds, this is the time. But really he has not been as good as he seems when he's hot nor as bad as he seems when cold... the question we should be asking ourselves is whether he has been better than Belfour was last year, which is a resounding yes. Here's hoping that he can reel off a near perfect record like Aubin of last year...

[Bob Holden]

In a sense it is a relief to be reading about hockey and not headshots or fighting. In a couple of weeks, we will be seeing my favourite hockey of the year, the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There was a time, back in the 80's when the Leafs were not very good or very entertaining, I boycotted their regular season completely and absolutely binged on the early playoffs. There were at least a couple of games on every night.
I think that the NHL (if they aspire to being a major league) might consider reproducing that package year round. There are few gooning instances or fighting or players taking a night off. High stakes and high intensity make for very exciting hockey and always some new heroes.

Maybe Raycroft will get his chance to step up and shine.

[Daniel]

Leafs fans and commentators have gotten into this "stealing games" mantra due to the past decade when that's what they often needed to win games. But the team plays differently this year; there hasn't been a ton of games there to be stolen - Raycroft has given them the chance to win most nights, can be singlehandedly blamed for maybe 3-4 losses (compared to about the 7-8 last year between Belfour and Tellqvist). And on other nights the Leafs get so badly outplayed that no goalie in the world would help (the games against Pittsburgh, for e.g.) which doesn't help a goalie's stats.

The JFJ deal Leafs fans should be excoriating is not the Raycroft one but the Aubin one, based on one measly hot streak. He showed his true colors again this season (a No. 3 goalie you call up when 1 or 2 is hurt) and as a result Raycroft will play 70 games instead of the 55-60 that, I think, would have made him more effective).

[Jean-Paul]

I agree with Daniel: the Leafs have been spoiled in terms of goaltending since Joseph came on board. Raycroft is a competent goalie, and from the beginning thoughts that he would regain his rookie year's success were unrealistic. The direction that the team looked to be taking (and one I think they should keep pursuing) is that of a team which doesn't need to fall back on its goalie every night to salvage 2 points. Granted, great goaltending is made from big saves at the right time, but again, Raycroft is not a great goaltender. Unfortunately, the defence hasn't been as good on the ice as it is on paper, and the offence is lacking a consistent speedy scorer.

Raycroft isn't the goalie of the future for the Leafs, but he was never meant to be. He was a stopgap measure intended to provide competent goaltending while the team rebuilds. Toronto fans just need to have a little more patience and realize that you can't build a competitor in one season.

[Derek Crimin]

Please dont compare Raycroft with Brodeur or Luongo. He is a quality goaltender to most teams but the other two we mentioned are two of the best in the world. In any other market other than Toronto he would be considered doing a quality job especially with what he has playing in front of him.

[Adam C]

It's not fair to Raycroft personally, but his success in Toronto is always going to be measured against what they gave up to get him. It was a pretty steep price for "competent"; especially when someone like Manny Legace was available for free.

[Roger]

The opinions on Raycroft vary. That’s all they are – opinions. The fact is that Raycroft has one of the worst save percentage among starting goalies. He is not a starting goalie – at least not yet. He could be a somewhat reliable backup.

[Dustin]

Hardly a fair comparison, Damien. Both Luongo and Brodeur are established goalies, while, like you stated in your article, Raycroft is in his 3rd year.

I think Raycroft has been mediocre this season, and should get better. My problem is with JFJ. Why did we need a Raycroft, when we had 2 cheaper goalies (Tellqvist and Aubin) at our disposal?

[Denny]

I think Raycroft has been OK. Like Damian said he is young and going to have his ups and downs. Raycroft and Cam Ward are in the same boat. Ward came off a great playoff run, won the Conn Smyth, and the Stanley Cup all at the tender age of 21. He may never win another stanley cup in his career but its ok, cause he did it once. Nobody will doubt his ability to do it. The fans in Toronto have been much too hard on Raycroft, he is young and has proven he can play at this level. There was alot of pressure on him coming into this year and you would be kidding yourself if you think that doesnt have a bit of an effect on him. Excuses aside, he has been pretty solid since the allstar break .903% 2.56GAA and most importanlty 15 wins. Numbers absolutly worthy of a #1 goaltender. All that talk he is weak high glove is B.S. any butterfly goalie is vunerable up high. I've seen the best get beat with a great shot. I dont think Toronto aquired Raycroft to be a stopgap. I think they aquired him to be thier goalie untill proven otherwise. Wether Pogge comes up and outpreforms him, or Raycroft loses his job on his own he is here untill he is no longer needed or wanted. So get used too it, personally I think he is here for a while, and fans in Toronto are going to have to deal with it.

[Roger]

I don’t how hard the Leafs went after Luongo last summer but if they didn’t they should have. Considering how little the Canucks gave up for him, the Leafs could have packaged a deal for him. Just think how much better of a position we would be in if RL was here. Without Luongo the Canucks are not a playoff team; with him they’re a Cup contender. I know its spilt milk at this stage but hopefully the Leafs upper mgmt can learn from this mistake.

I hope I’m wrong about Raycroft but if he continues to play poorly the Leafs are going to have to look for an alternative for next season. We cannot have the Leafs missing the playoffs for a third straight season.

[Iain Wood]

A quick analysis of the NHL stats shows that Raycroft is a pretty darn good acquisition.

Sure the Leafs and Devils have similar shots against but you can't use this as like-for-like comparison data.

At even strength there's only 6 goals against difference between the Devils and Leafs over the season. That's amazing when you're comparing a legend to a mere mortal.

The Leafs took over 30% more penalties than the Devils. That means Raycroft is facing 30% more high-calibre power-play shots compared to Brodeur every night. And the Buds have conceded a whopping 46 more short handed goals against than the Devils as a result.

Does Raycroft let the Leafs down on the penalty kill? Well something stinks. The Leafs have about the worst PK in the league. Stay out of the box, fix the PK and watch Raycroft's stats suddenly make him the best new jersey for the Leafs.

(You can knick that pun DC)

[Don]

Raycroft is basically a 2nd year NHL goaltender. He won rookie of the year on a dysfunctional Boston Bruins team, there is talent there. Then the lockout, then spent most of the season in and out of the lineup. This is really his 2nd year. He has a great mental attitude towards the game. And from all reports a breathe of fresh air in the Leafs dressing room. As I read a quote from one leaf player, " you can talk around Razor before a game" meaning..you walked on eggshells when hothead Balfeur was around. He's learning, and he's learning in one of the toughest classrooms in the league, Toronto. I say, watch out for him, he carried the Bruins in his rookie year to the playoffs.