11.6.99 00:05:44
P-BRUINS NOTEBOOK
Laviolette remains silent on Boston's net dilemma

By BOB DICK
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- P-Bruins coach Peter Laviolette refuses to talk about the current goaltending dilemma facing the Boston Bruins even though whatever decision Boston makes will affect his team.

Byron Dafoe, who ended his long holdout a week ago by agreeing to a new, three-year contract, is expected to make his first start of the season for Boston tonight against the expansion Atlanta team.

Complicating matters regarding Dafoe's backup has been the play of rookie John Grahame. In his last two starts, Grahame shut out Buffalo and beat New Jersey, 3-1, and has reduced his goals-against average to a nifty 1.72. Grahame is now 3-3-2 in his brief NHL career.

Then there's Rob Tallas, who has been Boston's back-up to Dafoe. Right now, though, Tallas has a sore shoulder, which has been treated with a cortisone shot. Also, he's said to have an ankle problem. In any case, despite Grahame's superb play, Tallas won't be sent to Providence because it's feared that he wouldn't pass waivers. Also, there's the NHL expansion draft for Minneapolis and Columbus after the season. Boston will protect Dafoe and Grahame and make Tallas available.

If Tallas is physically okay to be Dafoe's backup again, Grahame will return to Providence to play regularly and stay sharp. He's already had conversations about such a move with former Bruins goalie Gerry Cheevers , who is part of Boston's scouting staff.

``Why do I want to talk about Johnny Grahame?'' Laviolette asked. ``I've got two good goaltenders here (Kay Whitmore and Maxime Gingras). They've played well. No one has phoned and told me Grahame is coming here.''

Tough call on netminders

The questions and decisions, though, get even more difficult here. Whitmore and Gingras, who started his sixth game last night against Saint John, have been terrific. Providence's slow start cannot be attributed to goaltending. So, when Grahame arrives, another decision must be made -- what to do with either Whitmore or Gingras. That's not an easy one. Laviolette won't speculate.

Whitmore, a 13 - year veteran with NHL experience (Vancouver and the Hartford Whalers), has a two - year contract with Boston. When he was signed, the original plan was for him to be the backup to Grahame at Providence. Dafoe's holdout changed all that.

``It won't be a surprise if Johnny comes back and he plays regularly. I've done this backup role before and Johnny is a young guy,'' said Whitmore, who is 3-3-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average. ``But, with John up there I've had a chance to play more and it's been great. Everyone wants to be the guy to play and I don't like sitting on the bench.''

Gingras poses a small problem

Then there's Gingras, who entered last night's game with the second lowest goals-against average in the AHL (1.68) and the second lowest save percentage (0.949). How can you not keep him around? But, he doesn't even have a contract. The 5-foot-6 Gingras is currently on a 25 - game tryout with Providence. Gingras has now made life miserable for the decision makers because of his solid play.

``He's very quick and has been a very nice surprise for us,'' Laviolette has said of Gingras, who was both rookie of the year and goaltender of the year last season in the East Coast Hockey League.

Gingras has always heard he's too small to play the game. How Boston feels about him is not clear. ``A lot of people have told me I'm too small. I've heard that all my life,'' Gingras says. ``I've been told I'm not strong enough but I played 139 games over the past two years and was consistent. Providence gave me a chance here, now we'll see what happens.''