GDB 21: Garon rides the pine
Jason Gregor
November 26 2008 01:46PM
If it wasn’t obvious before, it is now. Craig MacTavish has lost confidence in Mathieu Garon. In a move that shocked most, Dwayne Roloson will be starting tonight, not Garon, against the Kings.
Why you ask?
I have no idea. This move doesn’t make sense on any level. Roloson got pulled his last time out, and while Garon didn’t look comfortable for the first ten minutes in relief, he did look much better as game wore on.
The Oilers had four days of practice, Garon got to see more rubber than he had in the previous weeks, he looked and acted more comfortable and even he gave the impression he expected to start tonight against his former team.
But there was Roloson, first off at practice, and talking openly about starting tonight.
At the start of MacTavish’s press conference today, he was asked about Garon, but said he didn’t want to talk about the goalies before the game. Later in presser when pushed on it again he spoke about it.
“In talking to Pete about Mathieu he says his game in coming along in practice. It’s not just about the game, it’s about how Pete sees them (three goalies) coming along in practice. Matty’s game is coming around and based on practice he will get a start very soon.”
This move is more about just whether Roloson is better than Garon. MacTavish has lost confidence in Garon, and it sounds like goaltending coach Pete Peeters isn’t on the same page as Garon.
It was well-documented last season that Peeters wasn’t enamoured with Garon working with another goaltending consultant, Lyle Mast. Garon enjoyed working with Mast, and sources have hinted that #32 is no longer allowed to work with him.
If that is indeed the case, then Garon’s not playing could be based on more than just stopping pucks.
There is clearly something fishy about this situation.
Garon was great in his first three starts, and then average to below-average in the four since, but he wasn’t awful in relief against the Wings. And it’s not like Roloson was outstanding in his past few starts. He was okay, but not so great that you wouldn’t consider going with Garon.
Many wonder if the Oilers are showcasing Roloson, or plan on doing the same with Garon when, or if, he gets another start. So I asked MacTavish if he ever takes that angle when considering who will be his starter.
“I’m not a fortune teller. It's incumbent on the player to get in there and play well, if he wants continue to play. That's the simple part of it. When the goalies get and play well, like Mathieu did earlier, Jeff did in the middle, and how Rollie has done now. I go by what I see in practice and in the games; it's as simple as that.”
Based on those comments Garon must not be practicing well, because he has only played 48 minutes since Nov 7th.
Rarely do I second guess a lot of moves a coach makes, because I don’t think I know more than him, but in this case I’m scratching my head.
All the signs pointed to starting Garon. He allowed one goal in 25 shots versus Detroit. He had four days of practice, he was playing his former team, and he hasn’t had a start since November 6th, but he will be watching again.
Coaches get paid to win, so if the Oilers win tonight, MacTavish can feel confident in his decision. But this decision has many more negatives possibilities than it does positive ones.
The only positive is a win.
A lose opens him up to loads of criticism, and justified criticism in this case. It leaves Garon wondering more than ever where he fits on this team. It also hurts the team down the road. They need to clarify their goaltending situation sooner than later, and hopefully find a solution that ends what has become a five-year search for a true #1 goalie.
Win or lose tonight, not starting Garon looks wrong.
—Listen to Gregor weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. on the TEAM 1260 or online at www.justagame.ca.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/add.php
Add your word...lol
DARWIN HEAD needs to suit up
He was good for 10 goals I think & a million $
I think it was 15 actually. So. His shooting % is through the roof.
YOur word only gets 3 hits on Google - the googlebot needs to visit more
We can't beat a team that played last night...
What will MacT say about this?
Our slow starts, our effort, Roli was solid
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shitanusly
Lather, rinse, repeat. Continue to keep job despite terrible results.
^ LMAO
AWESOME
Wow, Lubomir has a rather difficult time gettin' it on net. I mean, an impossibly hard time.
You will enjoy the definition too I hope. I hope the editors allow nonsensical swear words
BORING GAME
BTW - Shitanusly is some fabutastic urban vocabulary.
Back to the game.
Why don't you just gimme a bottle of whisky and f*ckin' pistol already.
Well perhaps there is a little bit of heart on the tip (emphasis on the "little"). The fans boo, the teams wakes up slightly.
(Was it just me, or did it seem like some fans were booing OTHER fans who were trying "Let's go Oilers..."?)
"BORING GAME"
Welcome to the 2008/09 Edmonton Oilers season.
Of course they do
4. rusty 1 up, 16 down Some nasty Ho' at the tail end of Ragin' it... unclean hoochie, aunt flow, rag, aunt flo, menstration, on the rag, red river, the curse She said Aunt Flow just left town - Her shit left me lookin' a little rusty, I guess Flow had just made it as as far as the driveway...
(Was it just me, or did it seem like some fans were booing OTHER fans who were trying “Let’s go Oilers…”?)
It sounded like the singers were trying to drown out the boos
1. Oilers 24 up, 53 down Edmonton's hockey team. A good hockey team when they make it to the Stanley Cup finals.... A crappy hockey team when they don't. I was cheering for the Oilers, but the Flames made it to the Finals, so I like them better.
As per usual - it is more fun to post & read this than to actually watch the game...
"I was cheering for the Oilers, but the Flames made it to the Finals, so I like them better."
Buck75 you go stand with JeanShorts. All people exiting the bandwagon will be executed by kicks to the groin.
I'm going to go get my shoes
HOW MANY TIMES MUST WE SEE DAMN DROP PASS!!! EVERY TEAM IS WAITING FOR IT!
That is the definition on Urban Dictionary - LOL
I'm not jumping off the bandwagon.
I'm merely trying to burn it to the ground, that's all.
WG, I'm getting my steel toed boots.
I didn't make the definition of the oilers up for Urban Dictionary
JUICE BOY - come on!?!?!?
I will literally stand on the corner of Jasper Ave and 105 street tomorrow morning and kick every single bandwagon jumping SOB in this city square in the balls.
Wow small save
I will literally stand on the corner of Jasper Ave and 105 street tomorrow morning and kick every single bandwagon jumping SOB in this city square in the balls.
Wow small save
JUNK
So, it was OBVIOUSLY the road trip. That was the reason why we lost all those games. Was because we were playing on the road. Not the coach, or the management, nope. Definitely all the road games......
bah.
*off to dream of a coaching change.*
Well, none of us had to waste 200 bucks to watch that mess in person.
(Half-full glass....time to empty it)
The Justice League Post Game Show begins now! (insert cool graphics)
Anyone have any bench seats I can borrow for the "Fire MacT Bandwagon?" My pager is buzzing off the hook.
Oh hell...one rant.
No brains. No heart. No good ideas.
= the Craptastic 2008 Oilers. I'll be wearing my cup tomorrow morning Wanye.
Is there anything that can be said?
This team needs a change.
But what?
first time caller, long time listener,
sure loved all that "energy" provided by sestito and powder.
I am so glad I have given away all of my tickets to the games since the home opener...my clients appreciate me giving them tickets to pay $9/beer to watch the Oilers lose
word up lawchachi.
I thought sestito wasn't all bad actually.
Is it wrong that I want to punch babies?
5 straight home losses. The schedule is the problem. That's it! Here's the keys to the executive bathroom Mac!
Ahh a bright spot.
Boom-dee-ah-dah, Boom-dee-ah-dah, Boom-dee-ah-dah, Boom-dee-ah-dah
The Oilers need a million changes! Coaching, goaltending and a heart transplant
pretty sad when playing not all bad stands out among the rest.
This team is 15 kinds of confusing
Travis, nope that isn't wrong, I just lit my nephews dog on fire and threw it his room while he slept. Then I drunkenly yelled the truth about Santa as he cried.
can you smell the basement? I can.
Flashback to the one, the only, the immortal... Jason Gregor
"Coaches get paid to win, so if the Oilers win tonight, MacTavish can feel confident in his decision. But this decision has many more negatives possibilities than it does positive ones.
The only positive is a win."
that's because the sewer is backing up.
So do we hope for an exon valdez type tanking, so we have a shot at Taverese or that gigantic Swede? Or should we still hold out hope that something will eventually click and that this ship can be righted?