Esche: Bring on the heavy workload

Esche: Bring on the heavy workload

Wednesday, Oct 4, 2006

By Craig Muder
Observer-Dispatch
cmuder@utica.gannett.com

Robert Esche is the unquestioned starting goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers.

And while Esche would have rather earned the job than receiving it because of injury, the Westmoreland native plans on taking full advantage of the situation.

Esche and the Flyers begin the 2006-07 season Thursday at Pittsburgh. Esche is expected to be in goal, in part due to a hip injury sustained by Antero Niittymaki that required a cortisone shot but not surgery. And since Philadelphia general manager Bob Clarke has decided not to pursue a veteran backup, Esche figures to get the bulk of the starting assignments from head coach Ken Hitchcock.

Esche and Niittymaki are the only goalies on the Flyers' roster at this point.

"Hitch wanted us to start the season battling for the job, but I didn't know how much or when 'Nit' will be able to play," Esche said. "And I really don't know what Bob will do -- which is what makes him great, because no one knows what he will do.

"But I don't care who's behind me. I'm not settling for anything less than starting night-in and night-out."

Esche and Niittymaki split time last season, with Esche winning a career-best 22 games to go with 11 losses, five ties and a 2.97 goals-against average. Niittymaki was 23-15-6 in his rookie season with a 2.97 GAA.

But the 28-year-old Esche, who is entering his eighth NHL season, is more concerned about the Flyers' other veterans than his competition. Philadelphia entered last season as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup before falling to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the playoffs. Esche started all six playoff games.

Most of the Flyers' key players, including captain Peter Forsberg, return this season.
"We have a lot of older players, so we took it easy
in preseason because we know we don't want to get burned out in December," Esche said. "But one thing we have to do is establish an identity right away. Are we a defensive team? Are we a team that scores a lot of goals? Time will tell.

"The biggest thing is that we have to take it one game at a time. We're not looking so far in advance this year. We're looking at Pittsburgh on Thursday, then after that we're looking at the Rangers on Saturday."

Esche, meanwhile, is looking good after a summer spent getting healthy. The groin injury that cost him a month on the sidelines last season is healed, and Esche says he feels better at this point than he has in most seasons.

"I had a good summer because I was looking forward to getting this year under way after last year's disappointment," Esche said. "It's a blessing to be able to start a new season.

"I just want to play, and I want to make Ken Hitchcock's decision on who to play in goal as easy as possible. If I play well, the decision will be easy."