Niemi also admitted he never felt comfortable all game and was thankful to get the win. So he’ll be digging deep to be better as well. Should be interesting to see how both guys bounce back next game.

If they don’t it’ll be last goal wins I guess!

I guess if you have Boucher and you figure he can shut the door for the rest of the game, and you know the Hawks won’t pull a shaky Niemi (shakiest game I’ve seen him in anyway), then your chance of getting another goal and tying it up and then winning is likely what Laviolette was going with.

I knew he’d get lit up, but whatever. He did have an amazing string of games. I’d say Boucher still gets the start next game as he only let in one on the Hawks who were playing much better by the end of the game to me.

That has been their achilles heel though. It shouldn’t be surprising that it catches up to them in at least one game.

Puritania: Kelly Hrudey made a good point about Leighton having doubts before the game began. He said that Leighton knows Boucher is the better tender and if he doesnt perform up to snuff he might not get another chance in net for the remainder of the finals. that internal pressure added to the pressure of the finals must be pretty hard to overcome. I agree with Kelly, I doubt we see Leighton start another game.

True, true… so if that’s the case & Boucher gets lit up for a game or two (which is conceivable due to his layoff), then Laviolette is truly effed isn’t he? How do you go back to your previously stellar back-up (the reason you’re in the finals), possibly down 2-0 or 3-0 & say, “Hey buddy old pal, we have all the confidence in the world that you can get ‘er done!”