Is A Goaltender Controversy Brewing In Toronto?

For the second straight season, the Toronto Sceptres have seen a questionable start in the crease. Last year, Kristen Campebell quickly righted herself, eventually earning the first PWHL Goaltender of the Year award.

Perhaps it's Campbell's stellar performance last year that has sparked concern early this year. She's unquestionably one of the top goaltenders in the game, but also, at the moment, struggling.

This season, Campbell's GAA and save percentage took a signficant dip, and sit last among goaltenders who have appeared in two or more PWHL games this season. Through four starts for Campbell, she's posted a 3.59 GAA and .877 save percentage.

Last year, Toronto held their faith in the goaltender, and once she found her flow, Campbell was tough to beat.

It took six games for Campbell to find her way last season posting a save percentage above .900 only once in her first six games. Game seven was a shutout against the New York Sirens, and a turning point. That shutout came following the first game Campbell was not given a start, when the team played Erica Howe in goal.

Raygan Kirk came in Saturday for her first career PWHL start. The rookie, who played at Ohio State last season, made her debut three days prior in relief of Campbell who was pulled after allowing four goals on 21 shots against New York. Kirk came in and stopped all nine shots she faced.

Is a goaltending controversy brewing in Toronto?

Probably not. Toronto will give Campbell every opportunity again this season to correct course and find her flow, and it's likely at some point she will. Campbell, as was explained at length last season, often depends on her gaining that confidence, and getting into a rhythm. Internationally, she has never found it with Canada's senior national team. At Rivalry Series games, and intrasquad games, Campbell has struggled mightily. Her save percentage with Hockey Canada is well below .900, and in several appearances has slipped below .800.

In the PWHL however, much like the NCAA, Campbell has been given time and opportunities to find her way, because as last year showed, when she does, she is one of the best out there.

In the short PWHL seasons however, where every game matters to playoff hopes and positioning, it's hard to give endless opportunities to break a slump. So while it's unlikely there's a question in Toronto about Campbell long term, there's certainly reason for concern in how these extended stretches will impact the team.

Last year Toronto was saved time and again by Natalie Spooner. This season, without the Spooner impact in their lineup, every mistake is magnified.

Raygan Kirk certainly showed she can compete in the PWHL. She brought an aggressive approach to Toronto's crease, but still allowed four goals. She looks like a goaltender who can play in this league for years to come, but it's a big ask to expect any rookie to single handedly pull a team out of a four game losing streak.

What are Toronto's options?

The most probable answer to this is that Troy Ryan will go back to Campbell following the holiday break and hope, like last year, that a game on the bench will be the push she needs. There aren't many teams in the PWHL this season, where starters are getting a significant push from other netminders in their organizations, but there also aren't many cases where a push is significantly needed.

With Toronto sitting last in the PWHL through the opening month, patience for any player will begin to dwindle. Campbell will remain Toronto's starter unless Kirk can steal the spot by putting up a performance, and lifting Toronto in the win column, that cannot be ignored. Until then, expect Troy Ryan to approach things as Troy Ryan does, with calculated patience and faith in his players.

Kristen Campbell is one of the world's top goalies. There is no question about that. The only question for Toronto is, how do the weather this slump and get Campbell back to performing as one of the world's top goalies without crushing her confidence, or allowing the team to slide further away from the league's top teams.