Dan's the man in goal for playoff-bound Vancouver Canucks
Wade Usborne, The Province
CANADA.COM
Despite Alex Auld's strong play in the handful of games he started this year for the Vancouver Canucks, Dan Cloutier is the man who should be in goal when Vancouver opens its National Hockey League first-round playoff series with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at GM Place.
Cloutier is a seasoned veteran and Vancouver's No. 1 goalie. He's posted back-to-back 30-win seasons and proven he can shoulder the load as a starting goalie, injuries aside.
Cloutier's knee, while painful, hasn't prevented him from playing well the past couple of games.
Players suck it up and play through injuries all the time in the playoffs. Cloutier will be no different.
Auld has but a handful of NHL games under his belt.
Comparisons to him and rookie goalies who have had playoff success in the past are unfounded. Those goaltenders are the exception rather than the rule.
Auld can battle for the No.-1 job in training camp next year.
This year, Dan's the man who Canucks head coach Marc Crawford has to ride if the club is to achieve any post-season success.