Dustin Tokarski Passed First Big Test When Montreal Canadiens Beat the Detroit Red Wings

A big storyline surrounding the Montreal Canadiens over the summer was, who would be the backup goaltender to Carey Price. Would it be the unproven Dustin Tokarski or known veteran Peter Budaj?

In many cities, fans can’t even name their number two tender, but Montreal is a different story, and that is why we all love the Habs anyway.

Budaj was a solid veteran who played a perfect second fiddle to Price over the past three seasons, and had another year left on his contract. Tokarski however, stepped in during the Eastern Conference Final and was great against the New York Rangers, but ultimately lost the series in six games.

Nov 16, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski (35) makes the save on a shot by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser (65) in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It was hard to blame Tokarski for the series loss, especially when you consider the Habs were eliminated in a 1-0 loss at Madison Square Garden in Game 6. You can’t ask the guy who was a number three goaltender two weeks prior to do much more than hold the opposition to a single goal in a do or die game that would have forced a seventh game at the Bell Centre.

The Habs entered camp with their trio of goaltenders still in place, but with the season about to start, and none of them eligible to be sent to the minors without clearing waivers first, the Habs made their move.

General manager Marc Bergevin sent Budaj to the Winnipeg Jets with Patrick Holland, for Eric Tangradi. The backup job was officially Tokarksi’s.

Budaj was a successful backup to Price because he embraced the role of playing very sparingly, as Price prefers to play more than 60 games every season. Budaj would fill in when needed, often after sitting on the bench for two weeks or more, and play very well when called upon.

Nov 5, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski (35) makes a save on a shot by Buffalo Sabres left wing Nicolas Deslauriers (44) during the first period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

It was feared by some, myself included, that Tokarski would have a difficult time adjusting to being a backup for the first time in many years. Dating back to his Junior days with the Spokane Chiefs, Tokarski has played at least 44 games each season since 2006-07.

The 25 year old will surely play less than half of that total as Price’s backup this season.

A guy who is used to playing every night, can sometimes have a hard time playing a game after sitting for half a month. Tokarski is showing early in his first full NHL season, that is not the case for him.

Oct 9, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski (35) follows the puck against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Watson, Saskatchewan native played the Habs second game of the season against the Washington Capitals, before sitting on the end of the bench for over two weeks. Tokarski then played well enough to beat the Edmonton Oilers, but the Habs were shutout in a 3-0 loss, which included an empty netter when Tokarksi had been pulled for an extra attacker.

Just over a week later, Tokarski stopped 31 of 32 shots he faced against the Buffalo Sabres, leading the team to a 2-1 shootout victory that they really did not deserve. If not for a great game from a cold Tokarksi, Montreal would have suffered an embarrassing defeat to the worst team in the league.

Tokarski’s next game action was last night, 11 days after facing the Sabres. It would also be the first time he started against a team that made the playoffs last season, after playing the Capitals, Oilers and Sabres.

Nov 16, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Dustin Tokarski (35) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin (74) celebrate after the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Montreal won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Wings entered the game with a strange, yet respectable 8-3-5 record, and a healthy lineup for the first time in a very long time. They outshot the Habs 29-19, but a stellar outing from Tokarski led to a 4-1 victory for the Canadiens.

Montreal went into the third period up 2-0 on the scoreboard, and were outshot 19-7 in the final frame. Tokarski stopped 18 of those 19 shots, holding off furious pressure from the Wings to ensure a Canadiens win.

It was an exceptional period, and game from a goaltender who was playing just his third game in five weeks.

Tokarski’s numbers are now officially jumping off the page at you. His goals against average is down to 1.78 and his save percentage is an amazing .937. His worst performance thus far was a mop-up period against the Tampa Bay Lightning after Price was pulled in a blowout loss. Tokarski allowed three goals in the third period of a game that was already over before he stepped between the pipes.

If you look only at his four starts thus far this season, Tokarski has a sparkling .954 save percentage and a jaw dropping 1.21 goals against average. His record of 3-1-0 is not perfect, only because the Habs could not find the back of the net at all in a game against the lowly Edmonton Oilers.

Much like when Budaj used to shake the cobwebs out as soon as the puck dropped, Tokarski has been doing the same so far this season. With Price starting the majority of the Habs games, that is a quality that is important for Tokarski to have.

It is only early in the season, and his quality of competition was not very high in two of his starts, but it looks like the Habs will have a great chance to win every night this season, whether Price is between the pipes or not.