Columbus Blue Jackets’ netminder Allen York success in front of net adds to team’s depth-NHL News
No one can probably be as lucky as Columbus Blue Jackets’ young goaltender, Allen York, who a week earlier was struggling to find a place in front of Jackets’ net, but has now assumed a star status in a matter of just seven days due to his superb performance
in protecting the team’s net.
Allen York was called as a backup netminder due to absence of the team’s main goaltender, Curtis Sanford, who is out of the squad because of an unspecified season-ending injury.
Under the plan, York was due to be in action behind Steve Mason, the starter of the team in absence of Sanford.
As luck would have it, Mason was stuck by a shot in the mask during the team’s morning skate on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, and York was presented with an out-of-the-blue opportunity to showcase his talent and skills.
In a matter of the week, he has proved himself worthy to be a professional hockey league player. He courtesy of his timely show-off helped the team to add to their wins, successively.
His first game as a starter was against the Detroit Red Wings, which Jackets won with the margin of four to two (4-2) goals, and to help the victory chances, York successfully saved 29 shots.
It was not just one lucky chance for him then as the player went on to save another 30 shots in their four to one (4-1) goal-win over the Florida Panthers.
His form in the next and last game of the week against the St. Louis Blues was equally impressive as he was able to turn away 34 shots to help his side win the game with five to two (5-2) goal difference.
So, the week happened to be turning point of the netminder’s career. It provided him a chance for the starting role and he proved that if given an opportunity, he is not far behind the team’s main stars, Sanford and Mason.
It is not clear if the player is going to win a second chance from the team as the present opportunity was due to the sudden injury scares that the team had to face.
However, he has done enough during his appearance that the team can safely use him at any position as a replacement of other two netminders or otherwise, whenever they want and need him.
A number of commentators and the game analysts have backed the player for second chance. They said that the management should be comfortable with the fact now that he is not going to let them down whenever they need to call him to the squad.
Since the NHL playoffs are around the corner, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are already out of the second-round contention, York might have to wait for start of the next season to earn such chances regularly in the future.
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