Keefe's actions speak volumes as Leafs identify their starter for tonight's game in Columbus
After one of the worst losses in recent memory, the Maple Leafs got back to work on Friday in Columbus, and during practice, they managed to change several players and shuffle things around in hopes of finding some success.
In terms of what would happen in goal for the team's final game before the Christmas break, some pundits in the NHL feel that the Leafs should try to start Ilya Samsonov against the Blue Jackets in an attempt to allow him to enter the break on a positive note. It's clear that the Leafs do not feel the same.
It was announced on Friday that Martin Jones will get the start against the Blue Jackets and that Samsonov will need more time away from the net as he continues to work through his demons.
This is, without a doubt, the right move for the Leafs as Jones deserves this opportunity. He has been the better of the two netminders, and what sort of message would it send if Keefe continuously started Samsonov over the more deserving Jones?
Even though it's not ideal to have a third string goalie carry the bulk of the starts for a top ten NHL team, Jones has given the coaching staff and the players a sense of calm and stability that the team needs, aside from Thursday's runaway game, that is.
Jones currently holds a record of 3-1-0 with a goals against average of 3.28 and a save percentage of .907. As he settles into the starting role, it's expected those numbers to improve dramatically as the team seems to be playing better around him, especially defensively.
During last night's game against the Sabres, Jones was ice cold when he was brought into the game and did not play as well as expected, but it does not reflect his overall play as a Maple Leaf, since the team around him played extremely poorly.
It remains to be seen how the Leafs will solve this crisis as they wait for Joseph Woll's returning to the lineup after his high ankle sprain. But it's clear, that Jones is now the starting goaltender in Toronto until further notice.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 23 | 1034 ANSWERS Keefe's actions speak volumes as Leafs identify their starter for tonight's game in Columbus How confident are with Jones as the starting goalie? | ||
| Quite Confident | 354 | 34.2 % |
| Somewhat Confident | 465 | 45 % |
| I hope Samsonov improves | 88 | 8.5 % |
| Trade market time! | 127 | 12.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
