Gustavsson isn't to blame: Cherry
Last Updated: Saturday, November 14, 2009 | 11:53 PM ET
By Justin Piercy, CBC Sports
Rookie goalie Jonas Gustavsson, front, looks away as Calgary forwards Jarome Iginla, left, Fredrik Sjostrom, centre and Olli Jokinen, right, celebrate Iginla's first-period goal. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)After a disastrous start to Saturday's game for Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson, Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry said he empathizes with the Maple Leafs netminder.
Gustavsson (3-3-3) gave up two goals in the first 1:37 to Jarome Iginla and Eric Nystrom before his team cut the deficit to 2-1. The Swedish-born goalie allowed a third goal, to Dustin Boyd, in the opening frame and got the hook in favour of Vesa Toskala (0-4-2).
"I feel sorry, I don't blame [Gustavsson] for one goal," Cherry said in his Coach's Corner segment. "They are dynamite goals."
Gustavsson was signed by Toronto in the off-season from the Swedish Elite League to back up last year's starter, Toskala, but the two have been splitting time in the crease recently.
Toskala played Friday night in Chicago, where the Maple Leafs posted a 3-2 loss.
"You think Toskala wants to go back in? Neither one of them want to go in," Cherry said.
Cherry may have been alluding to the pressure that goalies face — especially at home, where fans are quick to show their displeasure with any player they consider to be underperforming.
"Look at this, [Gustavsson]'s waiting to get off — a bad sign," Cherry said while footage of the goalie swap rolled. "I don't know if the other guy wants to go on, it looks like he's taking his time.
"I feel bad for the kid, those goals were unbelievable," Cherry said. "Terry Sawchuk couldn't have stopped them."
