I have long considered myself a good judge of goaltending talent. Years ago before ever holding down a full time starting job I was preaching to anyone who would listen about how Ilya Bryzgalov was going to be the next big thing in net. The latest netminder I believed would be having me saying "I told you so" for years to come was the Montreal Canadians' Jaroslav Halak. Why there has even been a goaltending controversy in Quebec was beyond me.
His performance during the Olympics only helped back up my beliefs that one day soon he will be competing for the Vezina.
However, Halak's rise to the elite ranks of goalies may have taken a hit this week after the playoff pounding he received at the hands of the Washington Capitals. Shell shocked by the relentless offensive onslaught led by Nicklas Backstrom and co. it may have led to his confidence being permanently shook.
There are few positions in sports where one bad game can lead to a complete crumbling of a players future performance. Tommy Salo was never the same after watching the puck flutter off his back and into the net during the 2002 Olympics and Roberto Luongo has been a shell of himself after being lit up in game 6 of last year's playoff series against the Blackhawks.
Halak, 24, is still young enough to bounce back, but this beat down will surely be the greatest test of his mental fortitude. When the series began he had all but locked up the #1 goalie job in Montreal, however, a couple of shaky games later and the door was re-opened for Price. Price didn't fare much better and Halak may get at least one more chance in this series to regain his confidence before hitting the links.
This series may end up being a turning point for the young goalie and used as motivation to take his game to another level or the beginning of the end for yet another once promising young Montreal netminder.
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