While Connor Bedard rightly received the lionshare of attention with a hat trick in the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 win, Drew Commesso was quietly preserving a shutout on the other side of the ice.
Commesso when speaking to the media postgame credited the guys in front of him for the performance.
“My defenseman did a terrific job of letting me see pretty much every puck,” Commesso said. “I give a lot of credit to them and I want to give a lot of credit to their performance.”
The humility and modesty extends beyond Bedard it turns out.
Commesso Solid in Exhibition Debut
I’ve written quite a bit about Commesso and admire his game. Growing up watching some unbelievable goalies in Dominik Hasek, Ed Belfour, Martin Brodeur, and Patrick Roy, they all had their “style” of play that separated them from their peers. Belfour played angry while Roy played cocky. Hasek squirmed and slid all over the crease, making eye popping saves that looked more like a slinky was patrolling between the posts.
Brodeur was always technical, solid, confident. Of those four, it’s who Commesso reminds me of most. There is no panic in his demeanor, whether it’s an interview or on his skates. Commesso has a calming presence, squares the shooter, and doesn’t alter from what works for him.
It’s calm, smooth, and consistent–exactly what any successful team needs in the net.
“For me every time I get on the ice, I don’t really care if it’s a game or practice,” Commesso said. “My job is the same–to stop the puck. I’m going to go with the same approach. I really think that consistency of what I do at practice will help translate into the games.”
Just like expectations on Bedard potentially bordering on unreasonable at times, it’s unfair to expect Commesso to always be flawless.
But a shutout in the Prospect Showcase is certainly a way to start.
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