Thursday, January 17, 2002
Cujo may have the edge
Outperforming Belfour and Brodeur for Olympic job
By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun
Curtis Joseph unveiled his red, black and white Team Canada mask yesterday, sending a buzz throughout Lakeshore Lions Arena.
And with the other two Canadian goaltenders continuing to struggle, opponents may be seeing plenty of Joseph's new headgear next month at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Joseph admittedly has looked ordinary at times since being named to the team last month, including Tuesday's five-hole goal by Dany Heatley that gave the Atlanta Thrashers a 3-2 victory over the Leafs.
"Let's face it ... I should have had it," Joseph said yesterday.
Yet Joseph has been the most solid performer of the Team Canada lot, which includes the New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur and the Dallas Stars' Ed Belfour.
Entering play last night, Joseph was the only one with a goals-against average below 2.30 and a save percentage of .900 or better.
"I don't think the goaltenders who have been named have had the stellar years they've enjoyed in the past," Team Canada coach Pat Quinn said. "But we picked the guys who we feel have proven themselves over the years and we feel comfortable with that."
None of the three Olympic goalies was named to the North American all-star roster announced yesterday.
The three all-star goaltenders are Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche, Sean Burke of the Phoenix Coyotes and Jose Theodore of the Montreal Canadiens.
Joseph's Team Canada mask came courtesy of Bauer. He also has a customized mask from the 1996 World Cup, a memento which now rests in the basement of his home.
"It's pretty cool," he said of his new mask. "I thought I would try it out. It was comfortable."
Joseph said he hasn't decided if he will wear it in the Olympics.
Asked whether the mask had an effect on some of his teammates -- notably those players who will play for some of Canada's Olympic rivals -- Joseph grinned.
"Some of the European players were shooting a bit higher out there," he said.
While the Leafs and Joseph's handlers continue preliminary talks regarding a multiyear contract extension, Joseph feels he has played well since being named to Team Canada.
"I'd like to win every night but I'm happy with the way I've felt," he said.
Brodeur and Belfour cannot make the same claim.
Brodeur, believed to be Joseph's top competitor for the starters' job, looked fatigued in allowing five goals on 17 shots to the Tampa Bay Lightning, which defeated the Devils 5-4 Tuesday. Brodeur has played 42 of the Devils' 45 games.
"People expect a lot of things from me -- to be the best goalie and have the lowest goals-against," Brodeur told the Newark Star-Ledger. "If I don't, it's always because I'm overworked. I want to play. If you see me not wanting to play games, then there's something wrong with me."
Belfour and Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, an assistant with Team Canada, have been at loggerheads concerning playing time. But Quinn does not feel the dispute will play a role in the choice over who will be No. 1.
"It won't be Hitch's decision alone -- it will be a group effort," Quinn said. "If any coach makes a decision based on his relationship with a player and not how that player is performing, he won't be coaching for very long."
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
