The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly handing the car keys to the kid.
Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien has decided to go with 24-year-old Dustin Tokarski as his starting goalie in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Rangers. The decision to reportedly start Tokarski comes after Therrien revealed Monday morning that Carey Price will be out for the rest of the series with an injury.
[tweet https://twitter.com/EricEngels/status/468469911728439296 align=’center’]
Tokarski would be making his first career Stanley Cup playoffs appearance. He appeared in three games with Montreal this season where he recorded a .946 save percentage and a 1.84 goals against average. The 2008 fifth-round draft pick went 20-16-3 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 save percentage for the Hamilton Bulldogs, Montreal’s AHL affiliate.
Tokarski doesn’t have any NHL playoff experience, but he’s played in plenty of big games at lower levels. He appeared in 14 playoff games in 2012 with the Norfolk Admirals where he went 12-2- with a .944 save percentage, 1.46 GAA and three shutouts.He was also Canada’s primary goaltender at the 2009 world junior championships where he made 39 saves in the gold medal game.
Veteran goalie Peter Budaj will presumably serve as Tokarski’s backup.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@NHL
