Shut yer five hole

By Steven Lienert

Robert Esche recently said the writing was on the wall -- Ken Hitchcock will choose Antero Niittymaki to be the Flyers playoff goaltender.

The coach didn't say that. In fact, he denied it.

This was a veteran whining in public -- which further illustrated his point.

Esche should not be the starting keeper for the Flyers' Cup run.

With his comments, he showed us why.

Since the Olympic break, the Flyers have stumbled out to a 7-6-1 record -- not exactly tearing it up heading into the final month of the season. Somehow, they have managed to claw within two points of the Atlantic Division-leading Rangers, meaning they may be able to move up as high as the third seed in the East heading into the playoffs.

Niittymaki is 4-4 over that stretch, compiling a 2.87 goals-against average.

Esche is 3-2-1 with a 2.16 GAA, including a shutout.

So why would Esche come out and say what he said? It seems he has been the better of the two, for one reason or another, since coming home from Torino.

He said it because he either feels it -- or knows outright -- that the team has more confidence in Niittymaki.

He said it because he knows, as a positional goalie, his approach to goaltending means staying in control. It means being in the correct position to stop a particular shot.

Niittymaki, however, reminds fans of Pelle Lindbergh. To us, he's another in a long line of youthful goalies the Flyers have ridden deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Pete Peeters in 1980. Lindbergh in 1985. Ron Hextall in 1987. Brian Boucher in 2000. Esche in 2004.

That's right. Esche led the Flyers within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals in his first career foray into the postseason. He won 11 of 18 playoff contests with a 2.32 GAA. So why the lack of confidence?

Niittymaki has proven -- for two years now -- that as the stakes rise, so does his game. Like Lindbergh, he led the Flyers' AHL affiliate to a Calder Cup crown.

Like Lindbergh, he piloted his country to medal in the Olympics. (Lindbergh led Sweden to the bronze at Lake Placid in 1980; Niittymaki was named MVP of the tournament after leading Finland to silver in Torino. Esche, on the other hand, played in one game for the good ol' U.S. of A., losing 5-4 to Russia).

As a hockey player, Esche should have kept his comments to himself. He should have been the solid veteran that, if the rookie's eyes get big in the playoffs, he would ride to the rescue and provide the Flyers with a quality back-up plan.

Instead, he came across as a selfish, petulant keeper that's jealous of the new guy. The last thing the Flyers need heading into their Cup run is a goalie with his own agenda.

Steve Lienert can be reached at stevelienert@hotmail.com