Where Are They Now? Episode Three

It’s funny, but I blame Belfour specifically for the Leafs losses in 2002-03 and in 2003-04. He had the periodic brain cramps in the playoffs that sent the Leafs playoff hopes into the shitter.

In ‘02-03, he lost Game 4 a 3-2 overtime loss in the 6th period that tied the series up, when the Leafs had a 2-1 series lead. He was good for 5 periods then let in a crappy goal to get the Flyers back into the series and turn it around in Philly’s favor. It was a horrible goal, it looked like he wasn’t even trying and I got pissed! He was merde the rest of the way, including the 4-1 loss in Philly, and the 6-1 drubbing in Game 7, giving up two late first period goals and then proceeding to scat the bed.

Not to be outdone, in ‘03-04, he was good, not great in the Leafs wins, and horrible in Leafs losses. He shut out the Sens twice (more an indication of the Sens inability to score rather than Belfour’s brilliance) and then he promptly sucked in both the first two games against the Flyers on the road. The Leafs got back into the series, tying it at two with both wins at home, another reflection of the teams resolve, and then gave up the first two goals by the Flyers erly in Game 5 which turned out to be the Bryan McCabe mistake-laden 7-2 debacle.

Then the heartbreaker Game 6 … giving up two early goals in the first period (on easy shots!!) within a six minute span, the Buds were down 2-0 early, needed late game heroics with goals by Pilar and Sundin to get the game back to 2’s and send it into overtime. Toronto handled an early barrage, and then sent everything down Philly’s way to score the winner. It was clear Toronto (at home no less) were buoyed by their tenacity but then Roenick comes back on a 2-1 and Belfour drops to his knees on a routine shot that he should have had, series and season over.

The Belfour era was a disgrace in Toronto.

Recchi’s goal — It looked like he wasn’t trying, and that’s the crux of this anti-Belfour feeling. Whether he was or wasn’t is subjective, but at every wrong turn that playoff, it was Belfour who dropped the ball … that one goal was turning point, making the series into a 2-2 affair, instead of a 3-1 stranglehold and I blame the Eagle for letting in, yet, another softie.

Wouldn’t have gotten to the playoffs without Eddie? The following season, Toronto had their share of contributors, it was a total team effort.

They were 4th on the PP, and 20th in the PK. I have to disagree that Belfour was the reason for success. They recorded 103 points with the 4th best g/game average (2.95), right behind TB and they let in 2.49 g/game, in the 15th range. It wasn’t Belfour, it was an entire team effort, solidified by the acquisition of Brian Leetch at the deadline, and for a club that was looking to take the next step.

Eddie was actually pretty similar to Raycroft, letting in a killer goal at a killer moment. He just didn’t do it as often as Raycroft (God, who did??), but it was still a problem. One could make the case for this in Chicago, San Jose and Dallas, despite winning a Cup.

His selfishness and ‘me-first’ attitude was a detriment and he quit on the Leafs after the lockout. He was ‘injured’ … please

In my eyes, he was a bust.

All right, let’s put those stats into perspective though?

As for it not being about Eddie:
2002-2003 Regular Season 2.26 GAA .922 Sv%
2002-2003 Playoffs 2.71GAA .915 Sv%

2003-2004 Regular Season 2.13GAA .918 Sv%
2003-2004 Playoffs 2.09 GAA and .929 Sv%

Here are various other goaltenders in that same era (2002-03 and ’03-04)

Ottawa Senators
Patrick Lalime
2002-03 – 2.16 GAA 0.911 SV%
2003-04 – 2.29 GAA 0.905 SV%

Tampa Bay – Nik Khabibulin
2002-03 – 2.47 GAA 0.911 SV%
2003-04 – 2.33 GAA 0.910 SV%

Buffalo
2002-03

Mika Noronen – 16GP 2.42 GAA 0.912 SV%
Martin Biron – 54GP 2.56 GAA .908 SV%
Ryan Miller – 15GP 2.63 GAA .902SV%

2003-04
Mika Noronen – 35GP 2.57 GAA .906 SV%
Martin Biron – 52GP 2.52 GAA .913 SV%
Ryan Miller – 3GP 5.08 GAA .795 SV%

San Jose – 2002-03

Vesa Toskala – 11 GP 2.35 GAA .927 SV%
Evgeni Nabokov – 55GP 2.71 GAA .906 SV%
Miikka Kiprusoff – 22GP 3.25 GAA .879 SV%

San Jose – 2003-04
Vesa Toskala – 28GP 2.06 GAA .930 SV%
Evgeni Nabokov – 59GP 2.21 GAA ..921 SV%
Miikka Kiprusoff – TRADED TO CALGARY

Carolina – 2002-03
Kevin Weekes – 51GP 2.55 GAA .912 SAA
Arturs Irbe – 34GP 3.18 GAA .877 SV%

2003-04
Name GP GAA Svspct
Kevin Weekes 2.33 .912
Arturs Irbe 10GP 2.45 .899
Jamie Storr 14 2.91 .878

Phoenix
2002-03Name GP GAA Svspct
Sean Burke 22 2.12 0.930
Zac Bierk 16 2.17 .932
Brian Boucher 3.02 .894
Jean-Marc Pelletier 2 3.03 .875
Patrick DesRochers 4 3.77 .875

Phoenix
2003-04
Name GP GAA Svspct
Brent Johnson 8 GP2.60 .914
Brian Boucher 40 2.74 .906
Sean Burke 32 2.81 .908
Zac Bierk 4 3.81 0.889
Jean-Marc Pelletier 4 4.14 .857

This was the dead-puck era, so using Belfour’s stats in that context has to have a baseline. When teams like Phoenix, San Jose and Buffalo (who didn’t make the playoffs in those two years) are getting top goalies under 3 GAA, then it’s all relative, isn’t it?

You forgot Bryan McCabe (in a decent year), Glen Wesley (2002-03) Kaberle, Brian Leetch (’03-04).

It’s all relative which is why I hate using statistics as my guiding way. Belfour shit the bed at the most important times in the Leafs run. Toronto had to score twice in Game 6 against Philly, late in the game, to send it to overtime. Roberts scored overtime goals against the Sens in a thriller, and throughout those two season, Toronto showed a great will to come from behind and win games (remember giving up 2-0 leads in those days?)

The bottom line is, Belfour’s job was to stop pucks, just like it was the offense’s job to score goals. Toronto didn’t always support that notion of offensive support, but that was Quinn’s mantra since taking over from neutral zone trapping Mike Murphy.

Belfour was supposed to stop the puck. At crucial times, he didn’t and it’s the reason I give him the goat horns for the Leafs inability to get further in the postseason.

I know, everyone has moved on. …. too bad, this could have been a good debate.