OK Pavs, it’s your move

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This article was published 31/12/2014 (4161 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Regardless of what Paul Maurice says about his team having a No. 1 goalie in net every night, a challenge has been placed at Ondrej Pavelec’s feet and now he will respond or retreat.

 

How Pavelec handles the threat to his throne will say a lot about him and, more importantly, the rest of the Winnipeg Jets season.

Michael Hutchinson is clearly more of a goalie than anyone could confidently claim heading into this season. Hutchinson has staked a claim for more playing time and received it.

Pavelec is no longer the organization’s clear cut No. 1 man as the recent run of three consecutive starts for Hutchinson attests.

Pavelec, however, is going back in. Maurice promised this Monday and in fact, Pavelec announced himself as today’s starter after Tuesday’s practice.

The 27-year-old’s mindset will play a key role in his performance. Will he be defiant and push back at Hutchinson’s advances into what was once his sole empire of blue ice? Will he feel debilitating pressure to perform? Or will he sulk and quit? Or will it just be another day at the office for an eight-year pro?

“Like I said a week ago, my job is to be ready when I got the call. So I’ve got the call tomorrow and I’ve got to be ready,” said Pavelec Tuesday.

“We’ve been doing well. The last game, I think we’re playing well. Tomorrow’s another big game for us. We’re going to play against a really good team. We’ve been winning. I’m happy.”ã

Pavelec was handed the No. 1 job by the organization back in its Atlanta days and has never been challenged as he is right now. He was confirmed by GM Kevin Cheveldayoff last spring and Maurice gave him the bulk of the work early this season.

Hutchinson, however, proved different than Al Montoya and Chris Mason in that he wasn’t content to ease into the role of career backup. When he was given the net by Maurice, he saw it as an opportunity and with each passing game he nudged the door open inch by inch. That door is wide open right now.

Maurice was careful with his words on Monday, refusing to get cornered into any scenario where his goaltending situation is concerned.

Declaring a No. 1 is both impossible and unnecessary right now. What Hutchinson has shown to date is impressive but it can be equally argued that he’s an unknown.

He just hasn’t done enough through 18 career NHL starts.

Many goalies have arrived in the NHL and put together a string of good games only to fade into obscurity. Hutchinson still has lots to prove. So, while Pavelec is being challenged, so too is Hutchinson. Neither should be feeling overly safe and comfortable right about now. It may prove that a 50-50 or so tandem is what’s best for the Jets this season with each goalie providing both rest and competition for the other.

Circumstances and Maurice’s openness to filling out a lineup card based on what’s best for the game at hand with little regard to anything else has created an ongoing competition in the Jets net. One that likely won’t be resolved any time soon.

Maurice has been offered the opportunity to define his goaltending picture and hasn’t even blinked while zipping right past the questions.

This is an open-ended battle. Sure, if the Jets reach the post-season, Maurice may be inclined to name a No. 1 but that’s months from now.

The numbers remain in Hutchinson’s favour. He carries a .937 save percentage after 13 games started while Pavelec owns a .913 through 24 starts.

Hutchinson has played 804 minutes while Pavelec has been in the net for 1,437. The sample sizes are growing closer and how the save percentages change as Hutchinson eats up even more minutes will play a role in where Maurice turns from here.

For Pavelec, this is only the first challenge to his job and he’ll need to continue to parry with pro rookie Connor Hellebuyck and junior standout Eric Comrie getting closer to joining the fray.

Hellebuyck has been stellar in the AHL and Comrie might be the best junior-aged goalie in Canada. A fight for the crease was always coming in Winnipeg, Hutchinson just arrived on the battlefield earlier than anyone expected.

Pavelec remains part of the solution. How large a part and for how long is no longer solely up to him, which is good for the Jets organization. There’s a push from within, forcing players to be better or step aside.

The landscape has shifted under Pavelec’s skates and the strength of his resolve to hold his place in the here and now will soon be revealed.

We’re about to find out a lot about what goes on behind Ondrej Pavelec’s mask.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless