2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Penguins’ Tomas Vokoun tabbed to get Game 1 start
By Matt Shetler
The biggest question that Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma faced heading into the Pens second-round series against the Ottawa Senators was who his goaltender would be for Game 1.
Tuesday afternoon we got that answer: Tomas Vokoun.
May 11, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders right wing Colin McDonald (13) scores a goal on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tomas Vokoun (92) during the first period of game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Starting the series with Vokoun was really the best option Bylsma had right now, although it may have been tempting to go back to Marc-Andre Fleury.
The goal for Bylsma and the Penguins is winning a Stanley Cup, and it looks as if Vokoun gives them the best chance to do that at the moment, especially after his performances in the past two games.
Vokoun took over after Fleury was benched following a Game 4 loss to the New York Islanders and he was strong in net, helping the Pens to wins in the next two games and the series.
It’s a very small sample size, but the raw numbers suggest that Vokoun is the right choice. Fleury has a .891 save percentage and a 3.40 goals against average in the playoffs, while Vokoun has a .957 save percentage and a 1.41 GAA. That’s more than a slight discrepancy.
Ever since winning the Stanley Cup, “Flower” has really struggled in the postseason and so far this year it has been no different. After shutting out the Islanders in Game 1, Fleury gave up 15 goals in the next three games, which should have given Penguins fans flashbacks to his performance in last year’s playoff loss to the Flyers.
This is the reason the Penguins went out and signed Vokoun, in case they had to turn to him in this situation.
This shouldn’t have been a tough decision for Bylsma and it likely wasn’t. Even though he didn’t make it official until today, there was a good chance that he knew Vokoun was going to be the starter as soon as Game 6 ended.
You have to feel bad for Fleury and wonder where his head is at right now, but the ultimate goal is winning.
There’s a chance that Fleury still makes his presence felt this postseason, but for the time being the Penguins will go as far as Vokoun will take them.