Tough Night in Goal for Brodeur – is it Luongo’s Turn?

Babcock on Brodeur: “Tonight was a night we’d like to have been better in that area”

Ryan Miller was the difference in goal against Canada tonight

After Ryan Miller thoroughly outplayed Martin Brodeur in the USA’s 5-3 win over Canada tonight the big question on everyone’s mind is, “who starts for Canada on Tuesday?”

He owns all the goaltending records and led Canada to its last Gold Medal – but his 18 save performance tonight was not vintage Brodeur. It has to leave Head Coach Mike Babcock thinking about his plans in goal for their upcoming game vs. Germany.

If he’s made up his mind,  Babcock isn’t saying yet. “I’ll watch the game here tonight. Then I’ll make my decision and go from there. Tonight was a night we’d like to have been better in that area, but we’ll look at it and make that decision.”

You wouldn’t want a guy like Marty to exhibit anything but confidence, and his post-game comments certainly didn’t suggest anything else. “It was a tough game,” Brodeur said. “I think they got some bounces to score some goals. Had one go off my player. I made some key saves, I thought, in the game to turn it around. We just didn’t take advantage of it.” and also noted that “I had to make a couple of good saves on a couple of breakaways there to keep the game 3-2 late in the second, but after that we took three penalties.”

Will Roberto Luongo get the call on Tuesday?

Here’s betting Babcock looks to Vancouver’s Luongo against the German’s and, if Canada survives, he’ll continue to ride the hometown goalie for the rest of the tournament. Whatever the decision, Luongo isn’t campaigning – “That’s not my call,” Luongo said. “I’m here for Team Canada. I’m not here for Roberto Luongo.”

Luongo photo by MPR529, all rights reserved