Skudra didn't practice in Dallas, suffering from sore muscles
(Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun, 1/23/02)
DALLAS -- The Vancouver Canucks' goaltending crisis has proved so far to be as real and threatening as the millennium bug -- the billion-dollar computer hoax.
The sky hasn't fallen on the Canucks, mostly because starting goalie Dan Cloutier has held it in place by winning 19 games. But with Cloutier at home injured, the Canucks may be looking apprehensively skyward and ducking storm clouds tonight in Dallas.
Backup goalie Peter Skudra did not practice here Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury, which means the Canucks may be forced tonight to use untried rookie Alex Auld against the Dallas Stars.
Auld has not played a minute in the NHL. Skudra has only three wins this season.
"Good question," Skudra said when asked if he'll play tonight. "I think so. Nothing major is going to keep me out of the game. It's just [sore] muscles. I'm just taking a day easy."
Generally, NHL backup goalies do not get days off to rest muscles. Skudra has played just once in 12 days -- he replaced Cloutier 10 minutes into Vancouver's 7-5 win Monday in Carolina -- and the Canucks had a full day off on Sunday. Allowing four goals on 27 shots against the Hurricanes, Skudra needs the practice.
But he was limping noticeably after Monday's game. Instead of practicing in Dallas, Skudra underwent medical treatment for what seems to be a leg injury.
"He had a medical maintenance day today," Canuck coach Marc Crawford told reporters. "He is just a little sore from last night's game."
"There was not really a tweak or anything," Skudra said. "It's just maybe tired and a little tight. Nothing happened in the game that will keep me out. I stressed myself a little bit."
He'll stress Crawford much more if he is unable to play tonight.
Martin Brochu, demoted to the minors after a 0-3 start as Cloutier's backup, has lost the organization's confidence so absolutely that Auld was promoted from the Manitoba Moose despite his inexperience.
Auld, like every goalie in the organization except Cloutier, struggled at the start of the season, although he had a good reason -- a pre-season ankle injury.
Auld was dispatched to Columbia, S.C., of the East Coast League to re-sharpen his skills and is 8-5 with a 3.42 average and 88.2 save percentage in the American League with the Moose.
He sat on the Canucks' bench for games Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, watching Skudra play while Cloutier took a brief leave to be with an ailing family member.
Skudra, 3-4-1-1 with a 3.16 average and .888 save rate, hasn't started a game since then.
"These guys are all capable people, and you have to treat them like they're capable," Crawford said. "[Skudra] has got to be a little bit more controlled in his play. The two games he was great in . . . he was very controlled. The rebounds stopped in front of him and he wasn't overpursuing shots."
Canuck player personnel director Steve Tambellini, accompanying the team on its four game road trip, said there is no need to look for goaltending help outside the organization unless Cloutier's sprained ankle injury proves worse than expected.
Cloutier told reporters in Vancouver that he hopes to be out only a few days, but conceded his recovery could require a week or longer.
Starting tonight, the Canucks play five times in eight days.
"I think the first step is to be clear on Danny's status," said Tambellini, who is of the opinion the Auld displays more maturity and experience than expected from a player less than a year removed from junior hockey.
"Did we expect to have him here this early? I would say 'no,'" Tambellini said. "But it's a great opportunity for Alex. I'm sure it's very exciting."
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