Backup goalie shines

The Detroit Red Wings blew into Phoenix this week, bringing with them their first place team, which includes future Hall of Famers Luc Robitaille, Bret Hull, and Dominek Hasek.

The Wings game was followed by a road trip to Colorado against last year's champions the Avalanche.

The Coyotes lost Both games, but netted them a point each for end-of-regulation ties.

Robert Esche was playing in his first game since learning that starting goalie Sean Burke will be out for up to two weeks with a groin strain. Esche was strong in the net with 29 saves, keeping the Coyotes in the game despite defensive breakdowns in front of him in the closing period.

"It's definitely bittersweet," Esche said. "We held them within one goal the whole game, and with 2:19 left they just made a lucky play. It was a broken play, and that happens sometimes."

After the shelling of Coyote goalies, which the hit-and-miss defensive play of the team has allowed in recent outings, it was refreshing to see support for Esche in front of the net.

Previous Esche outings were marred by losses blamed on poor goalkeeping rather than placing the blame on a poor defensive showing. Once this lack of defense had Sean Burke as its victim, the focus turned from Esche to the lack of two-way play on the Coyotes, where it belonged.

The Coyotes then traveled to Denver for an important road trip game against the Avalanche.

A long road trip faces the Coyote for most of the remainder of January, and every point before the All-Star break is critical to the Coyote's hopes for a playoff run.

However, the Colorado game was marred by poor officiating, a more and more common problem this season, with a missed call late in overtime costing Phoenix the game.

Coach Bob Francis praised goalie Esche, who made Ladislav Nagy's first-period, power-play goal stand up until the third period.

The Coyotes eventually lost in overtime, with Colorado's OT goal allowed despite Phoenix protests that the Avalanche net had been knocked off its moorings seconds earlier.

Replays showed that Colorado's Radim Vrbata intentionally dislodged it, but no whistle was blown. Esche was furious with the OT goal, justifiably so, slamming his stick to the ice, and receiving a misconduct penalty.

Many have expressed surprise at Esche's solid work in the net since Burke's injury, but should not be surprised at all. Esche has proven himself an exceptional if unconventional goaltender both in the World Cup games and in previous seasons with the Yotes.

Many will recall his first NHL shutout against the Red Wings in Detroit.

There is a bright future for Coyotes goaltending, if the Yotes management is only wise enough to hang on to their backup goalie, Number 42.

All Star Game Musings

Much to do about nothing?

That is the consensus about this year's All-Star game, in which many of the players chosen are not having what one could call acceptable years.

Teemu Selanne and Owen Nolan, both chosen by the fans, are struggling. Jeremy Roenick was chosen by the All-Star committee, falling short in the fan selection in spite of his team leading point total and top five standing in assists at this halfway point in the season.

The argument against the North American versus World format is stronger than ever, especially in a year when the Olympic Games follow the All-Star game by less than two weeks.

Is fan selection the way to choose who plays in this "for the fans" game? Should we return to the old selection process in which every team had a representative? Should the NHL choose the players the way the NFL decides on hits All-Star game attendees? Were we better off with the Eastern Conference versus Western Conference format? And, based on the ratings, does anyone really care?

The addition of Roenick to the team does mean one important thing, however. I have another Roenick jersey to purchase for my collection (14 and counting).