I mentioned this earlier but it has more to do with the team in front of you ( confidence) this time of year. At this point both Kari and Medina need to earn their teams confidence. There will be a clear #1 at some point but until the team settles in defensively it is too early to start pointing fingers at the goalies.Medina playing 1 game is not criteria to pull the plug on Kari. What will be said after Xavier has some off nights? I am not saying Kari has not struggled and is fighting the puck. A couple of good outings can do wonders for confidence. Pirroinen played very good early last season up to the Dipietro trade. Imagine the pressure of being now the starter trying to fill the shoes of a giant. Both goalies have not had good support on both sides of the special teams play so far. For now, I would rotate between goalies on losses and keep them in after wins. Both are young and inexperienced at the OHL level. After maybe 20 games in, a clear front runner may be evident. Few goalies even on great teams find their stride until their 3rd and 4th seasons. In this league wins are more important than pure goalie stats. The Spits have or at least supposed to be a offensive minded team. Goalie stats will suffer from this style however if you are winning so be it. Grant Fuhr never had stats other than wins on the Oilers. The biggest challenge is having a goalie that can make that key stop when you need it most. That's the goalie I'm looking for.
I mentioned this earlier but it has more to do with the team in front of you ( confidence) this time of year. At this point both Kari and Medina need to earn their teams confidence. There will be a clear #1 at some point but until the team settles in defensively it is too early to start pointing fingers at the goalies.
This is a real down year for goalies so there is not really many options other than to let the 2 of them push each other and develop into a clear 1A/ 1B by midyear.
I'm more concerned with total team defense - all 6 players on the ice working as a unit. That is what TL needs to figure out.
Should Medina get a start this weekend? Yes. Is he THE starter? Of course not. Piiroinen has looked much better this season and that's undeniable. Has he allowed some softies? Sure. Are we still comparing him to DiPietro? Mmmhmmm. The mere idea of talking about changing starters after one (1) game with Medina (against an average-at-best club, to boot) tells me everything. Give Kari a couple of months, at least, to get going and see what he can do. IF there's an issue at that point, look at options, but not on Oct 2 haha
I didn't say anyone specifically, but when we're talking about replacing Piiroinen as our starter this quickly, there's a reason. I'd give him a solid couple of months before we can evaluate the season so far; say the 20-25 game mark.
He's the starter based on being the veteran goaltender and his experience in the league. His peformance last season wasn't great, we know that, but that's not abnormal. Now, he's being given the chance to be the starter, his head is clear, and he's ready to go. If Medina proves more capable after 20ish games, then you deal with that when the time comes.
Game day, Ottawa in town for what should be a very tough challenge for Windsor. Ottawa missing Rossi which could help Windsor but they still have lots of talent on their roster.
I would guess Piiroinen starts.
Jodoin likely sits along with one of Johnston or Zito, probably Zito since Johnston I believe was the last of these two to sit. Maggio sat last game and McDonald had two of Windsor's three goals. Would be nice to see all four in every night but they are going to have to force their way in by outplaying the vets. While the four of them have played solid to this point in whatever combination they've been in the line up in none of the vets have played themselves out of a spot at this point. Hopefully in the next few weeks the kids can push the team to make some tough decisions as to who sits and who plays every night.
Hoping to see a bit of a shakeup throughout the lineup, getting McDonald and Maggio in more prominent roles with the regulars and definitely hoping for some special teams changes. There is some solid talent on this roster but the younger kids are definitely the more talented part of the roster, just need to match some skill sets a bit better and clean up some of the systems.
When issues come up they need to be addressed quickly and this team has a few issues to clean up, so hopefully they get it done.
Cfaub
Probably would not sit Zito tonight,he has 3 points in his last 2 games,ditto McDonald, my guess it will be Johnston,not because of poor play,more circumstance then anything, Maggio draws in to play against former teammates from Ottawa.
Guess it will depend on if the coaching staff actually wants to do something different. If not its vets first n the younger players 2nd. Like last bunch of years.
The one thing that does come with depth is players sitting, just hope as the season progresses it's the right players sitting at the right times.
" just hope as the season progresses it's the right players sitting at the right times."
Won't happen with this coaching staff!
Windsor vs Ottawa
Medina starts for Windsor and Cedric Andree starts for Ottawa
Not dressed for Windsor are Pasquale Vito and James Jodoin.
Foudy on top line with DAmico and Afanasyev will be fun to watch.