The risk in starting Huet vs. Nashville

It has been reported that coach Q has opted to start Huet in goal tonight vs.Nashville.

The rationale is understandable - Niemi lost his last outing vs. Vancouver and Huet is still the number 1, wants to play and has already beaten the Preds (his & the hawks last win).  Coach Q also knows, he is going to eventually have to rely on the veteran to shoulder the load if the team is to have a realistic hope of achieving its advertised "One Goal" of winning the cup. (Rookie goalies rarely win a Cup - the last goalie to do so before Cam Ward did it in 2006, was Patrick Roy back in 1986 & Ken Dryden in 1971 before that).  The sooner Q can rely on Huet, the better for all concerned. 

Huet hasn't played in a week and keeping him out of action might hurt his game readiness when he does eventually play - practices don't simulate game action and simply aren't the same as actually playing in a game.   As well, given his poor start to the year & the increasing focus on him by high expectation media and fans alike, his mental state at the moment most surely is fragile at best, so he needs the support of coaches and teammates more now than if he were at the top of his game.

Finally, tonight's opponent has been offensively challenged (notwithstanding their last game where they netted 6 in an OT win vs. Ottawa), so starting Huet tonight in front of anxious home fans seems as good a time as any.

There are always two sides (at least) to every story, however.  Niemi, despite losing to Vancouver, played well and the rookie has outplayed Huet so far this young season.  He is bigger than Huet, and thus takes up more of the goal, but has also, so far at least, looked sharper and more solid fundamentally (excluding his glove) - Niemi doesn't go down to the ice as much as Huet (both in terms of frequency and level) and he seems more confident, which is evident by how the young team plays in front of him.

Niemi understands that he is the backup and that he is going to get his chances to play, so I don't think he will  have any difficulty accepting that by not starting vs. Nashville tonight it means the coach is blaming him for the loss to Vancouver.  However, if I was Q, I would have gone with him in this game and started Huet vs. Minnesota, for a several reasons.

1. While Huet got the win vs. division rival Nashville last time out, it was on the road and after a strong early save, he wasn't severely tested as the hawks in front of him played nearly a flawless game.  If he lets in an early and/or weak one at home tonight, it won't take long for already restless fans with short memories to get on him again.  And if Toews and Seabrook, two key leaders on the team, are out of the lineup, it will put even more pressure on Huet.

2. Nashville has had trouble scoring this season, but did pot 6 in Ottawa the other night,  with Dmen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter each scoring twice and adding an assist while former Hawk J.P. Dumont picked up 5 points.  They also scored two PP goals in the last 3+ minutes of action, including the OT winner to quell a furious 3rd period Ottawa comeback. Meanwhile, the hawks have scored a combined 5 goals in their last two games (both losses at home) and as already mentioned may be missing two key elements of their offense and PP.   I think Niemi is playing better than Huet at the moment so if Nashville's offense is awakening, I would rather go with the hotter hand and leave Huet to start Tuesday at home against the Wild's still sleepwalking offense.

3. While Niemi is still young and learning and accepting that Huet is #1, putting him right back in to start after a loss would provide him with some extra support and confidence.  It also would give management the opportunity to gauge his reaction to the added responsibility, which is important, especially if Huet continues to falter and management is forced into deciding whether they need to actively go out and find a veteran backup, temporary or otherwise.

In summary, I think it is still too early for Huet to have removed all the "kinks" from his game as well as remove the doubts from fans, media and most importantly management (assuming he is ever able to) and starting him at home against a team that seems to have found its offense puts increased pressure on him and poses increased risks that may be avoidable if Niemi were to start.

At the same time, putting Niemi back in right after a loss in which he played well would provide a show of confidence and support that could prove very important if Huet continues to stumble.   I would have saved Huet for a start against Minnesota, which would still set both up for starts in the back to back games later next week in Nashville and vs. Montreal.

Hopefully, Huet plays well and Q isn't forced into having to pull him again this early in the season in an important divsional game - if that were to happen, the pressure on both Huet and Niemi ramps up even more.