Wild Coach Mike Yeo On Corey Crawford: 'He's Brodeur, He's Roy'

The Score- Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford may not be one of the all-time greats, but he is playing like one says the Wild's head coach. 

"Crawford, he's a star against us,"  Yeo said following Tuesday's 1-0 loss. "He's (Martin) Brodeur. He's (Patrick) Roy. He's everybody against us, so we've got to find a way to solve that."

Hey Mike, I don't want to criticize your coaching technique, but maybe this comment is part of your team's problem. Maybe, just maybe, when you compare a goalie that has already had his job taken once this spring to arguably the two greatest goaltenders to ever play the game you are giving your opponent a little too much respect. I realize that it is easier to heap praise on the competition than to chastise the play of your own players, but that doesn't exactly embrace the concept of tough love that playoff hockey requires. Don't get me wrong, Corey Crawford has bounced back from a horrific start to the playoffs, but he hasn't exactly had to stand on his head. I mean the guy lost his guy to a recovering alcoholic for Christ's sake. Brodeur and Roy were goaltenders that won games for their teams, the only responsibility Chicago gives Crawford is not to lose them. Is it possible that this is just a case of mistaken identity? If you want to tell me that Corey Crawford is Marty Biron or Patrick Lalime then I am willing to have the discussion. Those are both fair comparisons. Goalies that had a long career in the league despite having had to battle through their fair share of ups and downs. Let's show a little historical awareness coach. Probably not smart to build up your opponent to the likes of Goliath when you are one game from elimination. Even David needed a little margin for error.

Of course there is always the possibility that a little irrational adulation is exactly what Crawford needs to throw him off kilter. Someone with the mental instability of Crawford is not exactly immune to overconfidence. The last thing a player that has done so much wrong needs to hear is that he can do no wrong. Tell him he's Brodeur and might start coming out of the net and trying to play '3rd defenseman'. I think we have all seen how that's worked out in the past. I'll give Mike Yeo the benefit of the doubt and assume this is just his attempt at getting in the head of an erratic goaltender. If I take this comment for what it's worth it couldn't even buy me two minutes at a parking meter.