This is Esche's moment to shine

Kara Yorio

SPORTING NEWS

February 20, 2006

In a short, intense tournament like the Olympics, a goaltender who can get hot is a team's best chance at success.

In an all-star laden tournament like this with so much offensive talent, that one, key save can mean all the difference. Teams need goalies with confidence, composure, big-game experience -- and some success wouldn't hurt. And, of course, talent.

Going into the Games with a healthy Rick DiPietro, John Grahame and Robert Esche, I always thought Esche was the best chance for the United States to overcome its roster deficiencies and get anywhere in the medal round. But coach Peter Laviolette didn't ask me. Go figure.

Esche's NHL season hasn't been great. He has been inconsistent and injured and pushed for the starting job by backup Antero Niittymaki (you know, the guy backing those potent Finns through the preliminary round).

But all things being equal physically, Esche is the best goalie on the roster.

Let's face it, it's not like Grahame or DiPietro are so hot there was no question going to Italy. Esche's 3.15 goals-against average in 26 games for the Flyers is between Grahame's 2.68 (in 40 games for the Lightning) and DiPietro's 3.38 (in 43 games for the Islanders). But Esche took the Flyers to the Eastern Conference finals in 2004. He is a No. 1 goalie for a team that faces the pressure of media and fans, and teams gunning for him.

Still, he hasn't seen a minute of ice time in these Games. But now, he'll reportedly get his chance to show what he can do against Russia in the final game before the medal round.

Laviolette could just be giving Esche his chance to have some Olympic game time. At the same time, if DiPietro or Grahame were on a roll, Laviolette wouldn't risk disrupting it just for Esche to have his personal moment. Sure, there is something to be said for players getting tired in all of these games in this short time span. That could be it, but fatigue or not, you don't mess with a hot goaltender. They don't like it and the results usually aren't good.

So Esche could still find his way into the medal round with a great performance against the incredibly talented Russian offense. It won't be easy for him, having not played and being the third goalie in practice, which doesn't usually mean a lot of good looks. But this is it, his chance to show Laviolette he's the Americans' best chance to shock the better teams in the tournament.

If Esche plays very well Laviolette shouldn't hesitate. All due respect to Grahame and DiPietro for their efforts, the tournament gets even shorter now.

It's one game and done and neither has shown they are the man for the job.