We've got ourselves a goalie controversy a-brewin'. Ok...maybe not a full-fledged controversy, but definitely a conversation piece. I know my twitter feed (@TonyJar34) was pretty active last night, especially after the score became 5-2 in favor of the San Jose Sharks, with the call for Richard Bachman to be put in goal for the Dallas Stars (@dallasstars). When the team took the ice for the final twenty, the young Bachman, who hails from Salt Lake City, UT, donning his 31 jersey had gotten the call.
I cautioned anyone who would listen to not be so quick to banish Andrew Raycroft to the bench, but I realized that with the score so lopsided and Raycroft obviously off his game, receiving little to no help from the defense in front of him, it was time to give Bachs a look. Bear in mind, this was not his first NHL (@NHL) action. He played approximately six minutes against the Coyotes last year, stopping all four shots he faced. Last night, his shut out streak continued, stoning all eleven shots the Sharks fired at him, including a very pretty pad save as he patiently came out of the crease to challenge the shooter and just as it appeared Bachs was frozen, he stuck out his left pad and the puck shot innocently away into the corner.
It was about this time the thoughts of "Bachman vs. Jonathan Quick (@jonathanquick32)" began to float around as it began to look as if Richard was putting the thought of he belonged into the mind of his former-now-current head coach, Glen Gulutzan, as the two were together in Las Vegas in the ECHL. In his postgame words with the press, Gully mentioned that the starter would be decided today after practice. So, there you have it. Oh, and let me just stop you there; even if Bachs takes over the number two spot, the crease still belongs to Kari. He just lets us be in his world.
Several other pieces of info that have come down since I last rambled on here: Realignment was voted on by the Board of Governors at their meeting in California earlier this week, and it passed, so these late night starts that we've grown acustom to since 1998 will be reduced to a handful starting next year, when we will no longer be in the same "division/conference" with the Left Coast teams. I can't begin to tell you the excitement this brings, especially when it comes time for my boys to start watching the games. Speaking of seeing the games, it also got significantly cheaper to attend the greatest game on earth! New owner, Tom Gaglardi's, first item of business that he mentioned when he was introduced as the new owner was to give Stars President, Jim Lites, the freedom to do what was necessary to get bodies into the AAC to cheer on the team. Yesterday, it was announced that tickets were dropping down to as little as $9! Yes, you're reading that correctly...NINE dollars. Try to go see "The Muppets" for $9 and get back to me. Seventy percent of the lower bowl is now only $70. Of course, practice at the Stars Centers are still free. I would encourage anyone who has the ability to go. Much more "intimate" to see the team VERY up close and VERY...sweaty.
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