Just because he's not his own team's number one goaltender does not mean that this season has been anything but a success so far for Los Angeles Kings netminder Jason LaBarbera.
In June of 2004, the Kings decided to make a deal for their goaltender of the future, swapping Radek Bonk and Cristobal Huet to the Montreal Canadiens for Mathieu Garon, with an eye towards Garon, who had been backing up Jose Theodore, becoming the primary puckstopper in Los Angeles.
Then, while Garon was honing his craft in the American Hockey League with the Manchester Monarchs last year, posting an impressive eight shutouts to go along with a 2.12 goals against average and .927 save percentage, the Kings saw another AHL goaltender putting up spectacular numbers and decided he would be worth adding to the mix.
That goaltender was Jason LaBarbera, who had a 1.84 goals against average and .934 save percentage with Hartford as part of the New York Rangers farm system. The year before, LaBarbera was named the AHL MVP after registering 13 shutouts and a 1.59 goals against average; impressive numbers for the 1998 third-round pick.
The crease was getting crowded in New York, too, with Kevin Weekes and Henrik Lundqvist expected to hold down the two NHL jobs and college star Al Montoya joining the pro ranks from the University of Michigan, opening the door for Kings GM Dave Taylor to swoop in and sign LaBarbera as a free agent.
After signing LaBarbera to a two-year deal, Taylor pointed out that the Kings liked LaBarbera's size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and his steady improvement in the AHL. He also made sure to note that the Kings expected LaBarbera to "play a key role with the Kings this season."
Surely they had no idea it would be this key.
Coming out of training camp, the number one job that was assumed to be Garon's suddenly was in doubt, with coach Andy Murray refusing to name one guy as his go-to goaltender. So, the season has begun with Garon and LaBarbera alternating starts, though it will be interesting to see how long that plan lasts if the current production continues.LaBarbera, a 25 year-old native of Prince George, B.C., has won his first five starts and, thumbing his nose at the new wide open NHL, has a 1.40 goals against average and .947 save percentage. When compared to Garon's numbers (1-3, 3.18 goals against average, .873 save percentage), it leaves little doubt as to which one is earning the right to be the Kings' starter.
"When I first got here, I think I was a little overwhelmed for the first couple of weeks," LaBarbera told reporters following his most recent win, 3-1 over Anaheim Tuesday night. "But for me, it was just a matter of being comfortable and learning the whole surroundings."
Since he is still learning those surroundings and since five starts hardly qualifies Jason LaBarbera to be an NHL starting goaltender, patience is probably the right approach to take here. But, as long as LaBarbera continues to post win after win, and keeps that miniscule goals against average, Andy Murray won't have much of a decision to make.
from:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=140955&hubname=nhl
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Jason LaBarbera: King of the Crease
Jason LaBarbera: King of the Crease
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