Tony Esposito joins CTL
Transcript
We talked golly we go to the vast although they are black not that that's there right against Zito with us. Watching that gave you -- -- when you saw that that system that all it erased a really good performance -- great. Happens captives. People don't remember that they know that you lost on a bad angle but that he played pretty well I thought that both goalies played well. And it just unfortunate that you get decided on both of mine goal line. You'd like to see the guy -- from the slot in the legitimate -- but things happen. Bounce back how hard is that for him to enter tonight's game with the same confidence the end of the series he had been playing very well with something like that happens. As easy as much you wanna say you got to forget about it. How hard to forget about it loud it's always sort of on your mind but that would you have to do was just giving an airing it then get started now. Have a good start to the game in. Make a couple of saves and go from there. You can't let that affect the rest of your career the next game and that's part of gold and everybody -- and bad -- I don't care. We are all the best do it appeared that situation. Coming in tonight -- you want to be at the pressure on early you get into a grouping get that everything like that your mind if there is anything lingering -- you want the pressure on early some kinda. Get Belichick well it -- only really wants to do was to get up to retrieve -- these that's that I don't either a lot of pressure. Believe me. Which got it than that you played the Stanley Cup finals that you had such an unbelievable group that you were in that. Were you ever nervous before the game -- you just lets call it what we vote it's likely to get to a game like. Here I was I was nervous in the net. Like I'm on edge all the time in the and you settled down but you've still got this nervousness nervousness about Q in your adrenaline flowing so it's tough to stand still it. But at the overall thing is. You just don't want. Let the team down that's when the goaltender doesn't wanna do it and -- a -- like that you always say well I'll let the guys down the the guys know you try. Whether they consult you when you get back out at the next game and make a big city. Tony Corey Crawford has played five straight overtime games. How much I mean really how much stress is out on the -- it's one thing that you know he let -- go in regulation you got a few more shots to get back but it's no sudden death in overtime. Well where you don't you don't think about that and overtime only because of the fact that that. You know that when -- when when the team has gone down -- -- there and you see now we're gonna score you and your mind. And you hope but what happens is they come back at you Linda. You just wanna make the save and just go on but what happens is when the goal is scored on you when. The one good thing about it cap and ten seconds Iraq the ice you really don't get who did that and Patrick Kane talked about Corey Crawford let's hear what Nader had sex. And had a great season for -- and you know things like that are gonna happen so debate going into camp and once. -- -- mean and I think a lot of second and -- -- found that to keep his head up and and be positive because it puts that to your game and then we need -- the rest of the series so I think I think -- to accountant. This season. Huge -- -- -- you play. And certainly signs and I expect them. You know as teammates of all is that Corey Crawford back in his but it thing to see the thought it was. Equally thing the other night this has been a pretty chippy series Tony and you see a lot of that the -- he saw the hit on towards. And you saw Corey Crawford challenged Mike Smith. At center ice how rare was that had you ever experienced something like that as the goaltender challenging. The other goaltender you don't do it. All the time on I had never ever challenge another goaltender. It's when I'm involved in the play in the guy is trying to urge you and -- -- that's I get involved I've been several fights would have been with Wallace. And I just reacted immediately when it happens that I've never been and that's it to me tonight I don't know what do you signal. But I thought Mike Smith's agent but you forget -- that what that is they're disgusting part of what was your take on the into -- shop lately ran into Mike Smith you've been in that situation before what was your take well I I don't think you really tried to hit them. Unfortunately you know. And the rules say that you have to pay the price I thought we need one game you know just to get a slap on the wrist -- it was completely unintentional. But it reflects the -- trying to protect. Goaltenders but the way the NFL's trying to enact -- -- artifacts. Just to the head I think specifically. You know the protecting goalie that was the topic at GM meetings have been a topic league wide. Do you think the goaltenders are receiving you know too much. Protection that you are going a little bit too far. Mind -- I think in that situation first of all it was wandering out and I didn't think this time. Secondly it looked like that means you sort of lunged for a little bit and went into the shoulder room. -- so. I think -- a little out into public let's -- that he got that would be like us but he still contacted. Contact. He deserved a little bit of a slap and I did they get their three games. Mike Smith was ready to -- in my view of a soccer ball the only good. Rolled around on the field the next manager there's our that you ever seen this much animosity league wide where we got. Likes me some real dirty hippies now with that like that would you play that's playoff hockey. They want to win -- bowl teams do in. And they'll do anything to win in anything else to tee and in that's the way I like -- I think it should be chippy I don't like it to be dirty I'd like it to be champion physical. Doesn't take much doesn't mean he seems -- really have much history there are three games in the series and each other's guts and is that a process that -- there the guy that is a pretty tough guidance Torre's guys. And -- -- him really in a vulnerable position because he wasn't looking at that he was looking away never seen him coming. At the bat think about that guy left his feet. And put that extra force in the night I -- that's what -- with a -- like not so what are the keys for the Hawks tonight early. Is to get a lead. This get them down. They're not strong team coming back and they they don't have the scoring power we happen and I I just think that we about chance. We've had many good opportunities to win that game last game and in that we just couldn't put it away -- with the goaltender. Making his favorite shot why. But I just figured we just relaxes them -- keep shooting the puck will get you'll get it going and I think we'll be fine Tony Hawks zippy did it get when you were -- -- Were you want. With your stick get guys out of there was there are a lot of talking a lot you know -- stopped all anomaly you were playing with a lot of contact because. The goalie wasn't protected like he is now and in the crease was rectangular much smaller. You remember captain and a -- I called that -- absolutely excellent game that was a more contact because of the defenseman to take a lead. Their opposition players in front of the net in the that he used to come and try to before you get in get right against the goalie and enforce the defenseman -- put him into the -- type thing in. There with a lot of lot more confrontation. Yeah it was sent to -- I just think that I gonna get a sense of how they can bother Mike Smith. After watching him play three games now with the well I actually don't play in Tampa allotment and he would would have. For years so. And it just seems like if you get it get in front of them. -- game and get Reagan's facing gets flustered little bit and I haven't seen that in his play the but that's been his history so let's hope that some things happen. Into the course of a critical and I mean you look at it you know Mike Smith and temple was Greg you look at today he's a big reason why -- -- -- -- where they are you look at a guy like. Michael Leighton the flyers two years ago -- in the cup finals than. Now we've got to work and how how -- the ups and downs of goaltenders sometimes you don't expect your heads they have that happen. While that's true that the things happen goalies get hot they get on streaks I think Smith had a pretty good year he had a couple of very mediocre years and Tampa. But he seems to bounce back and played pretty steady -- I just think that. It's he has everything going for right now that's -- we got to do was get them. Get them to lose a game and get him down and out -- Keep getting on him when he's -- -- than that you know you don't have the run of the -- get in his way and bank into a little bit. Please get him off his game.
Tags:
Blackhawks legend Tony Esposito shares his thoughts on the series vs. Phoenix and the goaltending play of Corey Crawford and Mike Smith - 4/19






















