BOSTON – The Islanders are sinking toward their sixth consecutive non-playoff season. Co-owner Ed Milstein said he has no plans to improve the team with high-priced talent for many seasons to come. And Butch Goring was so distraught by the team’s 4-3 home loss to the Capitals Saturday that he refused to speak to the media after the game.
So in the midst of this difficult time, Goring decided he might as well look to the future by starting 20-year old rookie goaltender Roberto Luongo last night against the Bruins at the FleetCenter. For Luongo, who was called up from Lowell of the AHL on November 22, it was his NHL debut.
Before last night’s game, Goring, the first-year coach, said it was important to give Luongo a chance while he’s with the club. Luongo, who didn’t play in the four games since his recall, joined the Islanders after back-up Wade Flaherty was sidelined with a shoulder sprain Nov. 21.
“We can’t have him up here and just have him sitting the whole time,” Goring said. “He earned his start and at some point he’s got to play. He’s fairly sharp. We think he’s a capable player and we want to see where his game is.”
Luongo’s game, in fact, was at such a high level during training camp that Goring considered keeping him. But when Islander management decided not to trade the $2.7 million starter Felix Potvin, Luongo was sent to Lowell to keep his skills sharp rather than have him sit on the bench with the Islanders.
In 15 games at Lowell, Luongo, a Montreal-native, was 6-6-3 with a 2.98 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. Taken as the fourth overall pick by the Isles in ’97, he became the highest drafted goalie in history.
With Flaherty out indefinitely, Goring was asked if there were a chance that Luongo, provided he played well enough, would he not return to Lowell. Goring, however, was non-committal.
“We’re trying to decide what Flaherty’s status is,” he said. “We want this kid to play. That’s our biggest concern.”
Goring holds no grudge against Bruin management for firing him as the team’s head coach after just 13 games (5-7-1) in the 1986-87 season.
“I don’t harbor any bitterness,” he said. “I enjoyed my time in Boston. I still have a good relationship with [president and GM] Harry Sinden.”
In what was his first NHL head coaching job, Goring was in just his second season with the Bruins when he got ax. In his first year he guided Boston into the playoffs with 37-31-12 mark.
But that didn’t help Goring’s stature in the league as he didn’t get another NHL head coaching job until this season with the Islanders.
Upon his firing, Goring said he tried to make his case with Sinden, who is still with the Bruins in the same capacity.
“I told him he made a mistake,” Goring said. “I didn’t want to leave as an enemy. I wanted to leave as a professional.”