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Friday, December 17, 1999
Hackett gets start in Habs-Leafs tilt
MONTREAL (CP) -- If Jeff Hackett is feeling any pressure from the goaltending debate raging in Montreal, it will only intensify when the Canadiens visit the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.A full house at the Air Canada Centre and a national television audience will be looking on when Hackett replaces hot backup Jose Theodore in the Montreal net after making a call for more playing time this week.
And the 31-year-old Hackett will be up against one of the NHL's most explosive offensive clubs in the speedy Leafs.
"I don't know if you can say that Jeff is trying to find himself," acting captain Shayne Corson said Friday. "I don't think Hack or Theo have any problem.
"They have a great relationship and Hack has helped Theo a lot. Especially for goalies, experience is a really big thing."
Since Hackett was bombed in a 6-1 loss in Nashville on Nov. 18 -- and 23-year-old Theodore then won the next four games -- the senior partner in the Canadiens goaltending tandem looks to have lost some confidence.
In his last start, a 4-2 loss to Los Angeles on Dec. 11, he was replaced by Theodore midway through the second period after a weak goal gave the Kings a 3-0 lead.
Since Theodore caught fire, coach Alain Vigneault has gone with one goaltender until he loses a game, then puts in the other.
Theodore shut out the Capitals in Washington last Monday, then lost a heartbreaker 2-1 to New Jersey on Thursday night on a goal with 21 seconds left in regulation time by Randy McKay.
That put Hackett back in the net for the high-pressure Toronto tilt.
Hackett, who left without a word to the media after practice on Friday, had said earlier in the week he would say no more about the situation.
He had let Vigneault know he didn't like alternating with Theodore and, after finally establishing himself as No. 1 goaltender in recent seasons, that he needed as much playing time as possible.
Early in the season, when the Canadiens' horrendous injury woes were beginning, Hackett's brilliance kept Montreal in many games that might easily have turned into blowout losses.
But lately, Theodore's had the better numbers, winning five of his last eight starts.
For the season, Theodore is 5-6-0 with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Hackett's numbers are 6-12-2, 2.61 and .902.
"Theo's worked very hard since training camp and he's given us some great performances," said Corson. "And when a guy's hot, you've got to go with him -- I'm sure Hack would be the first one to admit that.
"We're lucky now that we have two guys who can do the job, but Hack's played great for us, too, and I'm sure he'll get up and play great for us again."
He may have some help up front as veteran winger Scott Thornton returns after missing two games with a groin injury.
Winger Turner Stevenson, who has missed 13 games with a sore back, may also come back.
Defenceman Scott Lachance's return after missing eight games with a bad back will give Vigneault nine defencemen to choose from, which had the beleaguered coach savouring the anticipated benefits of "internal competition" at that position.
Still out with long-term injuries are top defenceman Vladimir Malakhov (torn knee ligaments), first-line centre Saku Koivu (shoulder surgery), sniper Brian Savage (fractured neck vertebrae), forward Trevor Linden (ankle) and winger Oleg Petrov (knee).
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