Struggles in crease

[Score]

Struggles in crease
Goaltender Antoine Lafleur is looking to turn his game around for the P.E.I. Rocket
CHARLES REID
The Guardian

P.E.I. Rocket goaltender Antoine Lafleur shrugs at why he’s 3-11 after a breakout 27-19 season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League a year ago.

“I’ve got no reason for that. I think I’ve just got to play my game,” Lafleur told The Guardian. “I always make the first save. It’s different from last year, the defensive corps, but it’s not on them, it’s not their fault. Some games I’ve given up bad goals.

“As a team, I think we just need to step up (defensively).”

Lafleur, 19, may get a chance for his fourth win if he starts in P.E.I.’s game against Val-d’Or (10-9-1-2, eighth overall, 23 points) Friday night at the Civic Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.

Lafleur, a sixth-round pick of the Rocket in 2005, matured and took over as starter from Ryan Mior just before the Christmas break last season. He finished with a league fifth-best 2.97 goals-against-average despite facing a 10th worst 1,470 shots.

Still with value, Mior and defenceman Pierre-Marc Guilbault were traded to Gatineau for sniper Brett Morrison and solid defenceman Benoit Gervais.

While those two played well last season and this season, despite P.E.I.’s 7-12-1 launch, Lafleur’s looked shaky in several starts. He’s been pulled four times for backup Marc-Antoine Gélinas.

Last year, Lafleur recorded three shutouts. This season, arguably his best games have been 2-0 and 3-0 shutout losses to Moncton and St. John’s, respectively.

One explanation could be a draft hangover after the New York Rangers selected the Gatineau, Que., native in the second round in June’s NHL draft — a position which surprised many including Lafleur.

He played well at Rangers camp, going 2-0 along the way to winning the team’s rookie tournament.

But Lafleur shakes off the notion of the draft blues and points to one of his Montreal Canadians and QMJHL heroes for inspiration.

“No, I had a good camp. I’m always going to remember when Patrick Roy was playing for Granby (Bisons in 1984-85) and he had a 5.55 goals-against (average) and he made the Habs team the next year.”

Rocket head coach Guy Chouinard, now 51 and a former draft pick of Atlanta in 1974, has heard the draft blues played before after draftees returned from pro camps.

“I don’t know anyone that didn’t come back and take him a little time to adjust to the junior level and it seems tougher for goaltenders, for their timing,” said Chouinard. “Actually, for a goaltender it’s probably worse because of the shots that are taken, the way (the team) plays in front of you. In the pros you might get one rebound. Here, you might get two, you might get three.”

Despite the blues, Chouinard said his goaltender has to find the right notes to break out of his between-the-pipes funk.

“That has to stop. We need a guy like Lafleur to play the way he did last year,” said the coach. “I think right now it’s a confidence he has to get back and I think that whenever he gets a win that’s probably a good thing for him.”

While the Rocket is 17th overall with 15 points, it’s only five points and three wins away from the middle of the pack. And it’s still relatively early in the year, although the mid-season mark is just five weeks away.

So for those reasons, Lafleur still has hope.

“The teams are all close. It’s not like we’ve only won one or two games since the beginning of the year,” he said.


********

"I told him, when I talked with him, that I’ve had some good goaltenders that maybe had an off-night, but they were the first ones on the ice the next day. And they were eating pucks and making sure nobody would score on them. He’s got to get that mentality.
Guy Chouinard said on coaxing struggling goaltender Antoine Lafleur into better play.

[drno1]

We should all help Lafleur out on Friday night by cheering his name everytime he makes a save "Lafleur" Lafleur" Lafleur" Let's help the young fellow out...it couldn't hurt, and it might bring a little life to the morgue...wow what a neat idea...

[coreyapple]

Reid mentions all kinds of numbers, but he omits Lafleur's GAA of 4.77, and save % of .847, both worst in the league amongst the 18 goalies who have played the majority of their team's games.

The article gives no clue nor speculation as to WHY Lafleur is struggling - there has to be a reason, and that's what we should be talking about....there must be something in Lafleur's mechanics, something he's doing wrong, or else there are problems between the ears that we don't know about......either way, Lafleur's confidence seems shot.

Also, Reid said that "both Mior and Guilbault have played well last season and this season"......not bloody likely, since Guilbault is no longer in the league, he's 21.

As for the houseplants at The Morgue cheering on Lafleur to help him out, that'll happen on the night when pigs fly, Junior Cormier wins the spelling bee, someone buys me a beer, and Boomer and Fiddler show up at the game and buy tickets with their own money.

[Krang7]

Did it seem like Lafleur was blaming his defence for his struggles at first, and then backed off, to anyone else? Not really a good sign...

[coreyapple]

krang7 said:

Did it seem like Lafleur was blaming his defence for his struggles at first, and then backed off, to anyone else? Not really a good sign...

Excellent observation, Krang.

Yes, it did seem that way - any time a goalie who isn't doing well mentions his defence, he's in effect blaming them, even though that's not exactly what he's saying.

Here's a thought:

Rocket managed to get something for Mior the Mediocre and a 20-year-old defenceman last year, so why wouldn't they be able to deal Lafleur and one of our 20-year-olds (or 19-year-olds) and get value in return this year?

I'd trade for an 18-year-old defenceman and a 17-year-old goalie.

[bois]

coreyapple said:

krang7 said:

Did it seem like Lafleur was blaming his defence for his struggles at first, and then backed off, to anyone else? Not really a good sign...

Excellent observation, Krang.

Yes, it did seem that way - any time a goalie who isn't doing well mentions his defence, he's in effect blaming them, even though that's not exactly what he's saying.

Here's a thought:

Rocket managed to get something for Mior the Mediocre and a 20-year-old defenceman last year, so why wouldn't they be able to deal Lafleur and one of our 20-year-olds (or 19-year-olds) and get value in return this year?

I'd trade for an 18-year-old defenceman and a 17-year-old goalie.

2 points

First Reid said Morrison and Gervais played well last season and again this season not Guilbault

Secondly why on earth would we trade for a 17 year old goalie? We have a highly touted 17 year old goalie already named Evan Mosher tearing up the MJAHL

and I also picked up on LaFleur seemingly blaming the defense.. in fact I wasn't impressed at all with how any of his answers sounded.. hopefully the true meaning was lost in translation

[coreyapple]

bois said:

coreyapple said:

Excellent observation, Krang.

Yes, it did seem that way - any time a goalie who isn't doing well mentions his defence, he's in effect blaming them, even though that's not exactly what he's saying.

Here's a thought:

Rocket managed to get something for Mior the Mediocre and a 20-year-old defenceman last year, so why wouldn't they be able to deal Lafleur and one of our 20-year-olds (or 19-year-olds) and get value in return this year?

I'd trade for an 18-year-old defenceman and a 17-year-old goalie.

2 points

First Reid said Morrison and Gervais played well last season and again this season not Guilbault

Secondly why on earth would we trade for a 17 year old goalie? We have a highly touted 17 year old goalie already named Evan Mosher tearing up the MJAHL

and I also picked up on LaFleur seemingly blaming the defense.. in fact I wasn't impressed at all with how any of his answers sounded.. hopefully the true meaning was lost in translation

You're correct, it was Morrison and Gervais who played well, not Guilbault and Mior - my mistake.

Not sure how significant Mosher's play in the MJAHL is, having seen some of the caliber of snipers in that league - why is Mosher in the MJAHL in the first place, instead of developing here, as is Gélinas?

Doubt the 'true meaning was lost in translation' - what translation are you referring to? Unless Reid is doing his interviews in French, which I'm sure he's not, there was no translation.

OK then, if we trade Lafleur and a 20-year-old, what are we looking for aside from an 18-year-old defenceman?

An 18-year-old forward would be my guess.

[Score]

coreyapple said:

bois said:

2 points

First Reid said Morrison and Gervais played well last season and again this season not Guilbault

Secondly why on earth would we trade for a 17 year old goalie? We have a highly touted 17 year old goalie already named Evan Mosher tearing up the MJAHL

and I also picked up on LaFleur seemingly blaming the defense.. in fact I wasn't impressed at all with how any of his answers sounded.. hopefully the true meaning was lost in translation

Not sure how significant Mosher's play in the MJAHL is, having seen some of the caliber of snipers in that league - why is Mosher in the MJAHL in the first place, instead of developing here, as is Gélinas?
.

Mosher was sent down to the MJAHL so he would see plenty of ice time.

As a 17yr old, being a starter in a league mostly made up of 19 and 20yr olds, it was a good move.

Mosher is the #1 guy im Miramichi, and is playing great.

Having a 17yr old netminder playing all the time is better then having a 17yr old playing 2-4 times a month.

Also, how many MJAHL games have you seen this season to comment on the "Snipers" in that league?

[bois]

coreyapple said:

bois said:

2 points

First Reid said Morrison and Gervais played well last season and again this season not Guilbault

Secondly why on earth would we trade for a 17 year old goalie? We have a highly touted 17 year old goalie already named Evan Mosher tearing up the MJAHL

and I also picked up on LaFleur seemingly blaming the defense.. in fact I wasn't impressed at all with how any of his answers sounded.. hopefully the true meaning was lost in translation

You're correct, it was Morrison and Gervais who played well, not Guilbault and Mior - my mistake.

Not sure how significant Mosher's play in the MJAHL is, having seen some of the caliber of snipers in that league - why is Mosher in the MJAHL in the first place, instead of developing here, as is Gélinas?

Doubt the 'true meaning was lost in translation' - what translation are you referring to? Unless Reid is doing his interviews in French, which I'm sure he's not, there was no translation.

OK then, if we trade Lafleur and a 20-year-old, what are we looking for aside from an 18-year-old defenceman?

An 18-year-old forward would be my guess.

Why wouldn't his play in the MJAHL be significant?

and yes 17-18 year old forwards should be what we look for in any trade involving a 19 or 20 from our end

as for lost in translation.. french speaking kids sometimes have trouble expressing their true meaning in a second language when interviewed.. I'm hoping LaFleur really isn't blaming his defense for his own struggles this year

however I'm not at all impressed by his nonchalant attitude towards his awful stats.. comparing himself to Patrick Roy

[boogie]

It's quite possible he just meant that everybody has slumps. True he's not playing up to his potential right now, but I'm hoping this means he has a positive attitude and expects to rebound.

[reggiedunlop7]

Mosher was stung by a couple of snipers right here on the Island....Willie Harvey and Itan Chivara, who at the time of this post are 3rd and 1st respectfully in league scoring, but you would know that if you attended Abbies games.
But as relayed by other posters, he is doing quite well and I expect he will develop quite nicely. Mind you he probably would have seen some action with the way Lafleur has been pulled.

Lafleur's goaltending numbers were not omitted. They are in a stand alone box right beside the main photo on today's sports page.

[wingman]

coreyapple said:

Not sure how significant Mosher's play in the MJAHL is, having seen some of the caliber of snipers in that league - why is Mosher in the MJAHL in the first place, instead of developing here, as is Gélinas?

Why not call up Mosher and put him behind a team defense that is struggling badly and has allowed the most goals in the league. Plus the way that some fans have been getting on the goalies' cases in the last year or so, last year's starting goalie (Mior "the mediocre") who is no longer with the team and still being villified and Lafleur being blamed for the early playoff exit, that would be great for Mosher's development and the kid's confidence.

[coreyapple]

wingman said:

coreyapple said:

Not sure how significant Mosher's play in the MJAHL is, having seen some of the caliber of snipers in that league - why is Mosher in the MJAHL in the first place, instead of developing here, as is Gélinas?

Why not call up Mosher and put him behind a team defense that is struggling badly and has allowed the most goals in the league. quote]


That's the part I don't understand.

I've never seen Mosher play - not once.

But if he's that good a prospect, and maybe he is indeed, then why, at age 17, isn't he developing here with the Rocket instead of in the MJAHL?

It's not as if we're doing well in nets and couldn't use him, or anything like that.

[wingman]

The point is that if your defense is not playing well, it's not the best situation to put a young, developing goalie in. The Rocket have been giving up way too many goals and it's not all because of goaltending, alot of it has to do with the players in front of the goalie. Sure Mosher would get some ice time but if he were to be left out to dry too many times, like Gelinas and Lafleur has been, and getting scored upon alot as a result, that can affect his confidence. Until the team starts to play better defense and one of the current Rocket goalies are moved, Mosher is in a better situtation in the MJAHL than he would be with the Rocket.

[coreyapple]

wingman said:

The point is that if your defense is not playing well, it's not the best situation to put a young, developing goalie in. The Rocket have been giving up way too many goals and it's not all because of goaltending, alot of it has to do with the players in front of the goalie. Sure Mosher would get some ice time but if he were to be left out to dry too many times, like Gelinas and Lafleur has been, and getting scored upon alot as a result, that can affect his confidence. Until the team starts to play better defense and one of the current Rocket goalies are moved, Mosher is in a better situtation in the MJAHL than he would be with the Rocket.

Geez, I dunno, that sounds a lot like coddling, and it doesn't make much sense.

A Major Junior team has a hot goaltending prospect, but they leave him down on the farm because they don't want him playing behind a bad defence corps, since that might traumatize him?

I think the idea of playing in the MJAHL was Mosher's, not the Rocket - I'm told the kid wanted ice time, and now he's getting tons of it.

Sounds rather as if the Rocket had given up on Mosher.