TORONTO - It didn't feature the continuous spate of saves that marked two of
his games in the New Jersey series.
It wasn't
a shutout, nor was he able to prevent the Maple Leafs from scoring twice
late in the third period to send the game into overtime. But there was no
question Robert Esche truly became a big-time, big-league goaltender Tuesday
night.
While the Leafs were coming in waves, Esche made a string of big saves,
but couldn't stop a rebound from falling gracefully on Mats Sundin's stick.
While he turned that break into a tying goal, Esche turned away two more
would-be goals by Sundin and Tie Domi to survive into overtime, then made
two more amazing saves while the Leafs continued to pour it on.
Finally, Esche watched Jeremy Roenick end it all with a bullet of a shot
past Ed Belfour at 7:39 for a 3-2 Flyers victory. For Esche, it was almost
time to break not only his cone of silence, but an actual smile.
Almost.
"I'll do that when it's over," Esche said. "But right now, we've only won
eight games. We're only halfway to our goal."
Nevertheless, the Flyers would have never gotten that far without Esche, who
shook off a case of the stomach shakes to make 34 saves in this clinching
game.
"I'm really excited. I really am," he said. "The guys are playing great and
I'm happy to be a part of it. When it's all over, it'll be time (to loosen
up). And if it isn't our time, I'll know that I did my job."
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