BUFFALO, N.Y. - Justin Pogge has not yet graduated from the minors. But like someone fresh out of college, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie goaltender is in search of worldly experience.
In December, he travelled to Atlanta where he had an easy night against the league's second-worst team in his NHL debut. Last week, he hopped on a plane for Minnesota, where he was humbled by a team in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Wednesday night, the 22-year-old boarded a bus for Buffalo where he encountered his first openly hostile crowd and an even more hostile opponent.
Pogge faced 32 shots in a 5-0 loss against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena, but the result was not as important as the experience. For the second straight time, his teammates left him to his own devices. But the youngster never stopped competing.
While Leafs coach Ron Wilson had told Pogge that he would be returned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League Thursday regardless of his performance, the head coach was impressed by his goaltender's effort.
"Thank God for Justin Pogge," said Wilson, whose team managed just 16 shots.
"He had an outstanding game. He made a number of saves, or it could have been really ugly."
Though he was unable to stop the first shot he faced, Pogge looked more NHL-ready in his third career start. The problem was that his teammates played as though they were auditioning for roles in the minors.
The Sabres, who had just returned home from a six-game road trip, had every reason to be jet-lagged. Instead, it was the Leafs who appeared road-weary as they sleepwalked their way through their second game in two nights.
Toronto, which took nearly 11 minutes before registering a shot on net, managed only nine shots through the opening two periods. By then, the team had given up 24 shots and a 3-0 lead.
"We didn't show up for him," defenceman Jeff Finger said of the young netminder. "You don't want to say you feel bad for the kid, but you have to have a better effort for him."
Indeed, Pogge had no chance as the Leafs gave up countless odd-man rushes, second chances and point-blank scoring opportunities. On the Sabres' second goal, Drew Stafford undressed defenceman Mike Van Ryn with a gorgeous between-the-legs deke then picked the top corner on a partial breakaway. In the second period, no one accounted for Thomas Vanek, who swept in a rebound for the third goal. It's hard not to account for Vanek defensively, since he is now tied for second in the league in goals with 32, thanks to his hat trick. Tim Connolly also scored.
For Pogge, who had hardly been tested in a 6-1 win against the lowly Thrashers on Dec. 22, Wednesday night's game mirrored the 6-2 lopsided loss he suffered to the Wild.
"I didn't let in six goals this time, so I'm pretty happy about that," the six-foot-three netminder joked. "It wasn't too bad out there. It wasn't a bashing. It was a respectable score, I guess."
Pogge is able to laugh off the loss, because at least it did not happen in the American Hockey League. Sure, he has allowed 11 goals in his last two starts. But it has been a learning experience.
And if his three games in the NHL have taught him anything, it is that he wants to remain in the NHL.
"I'd rather be here than anywhere else," he said. "I'm happy to be here."
Drafted 90th overall in 2004, Pogge has been trying to prove he belongs in the NHL for the past two seasons. In 34 games with the Marlies, the Fort McMurray, Alta., native has a 16-14-4 record and a 2.63 goals-against average. He is now 1-2-0 with the Leafs.
Wilson has not said when - or how many times - Pogge will play this season.
But with six more back-to-back games remaining on the schedule, the Leafs should have ample opportunity to evaluate whether he might be capable of making the full-time jump to the NHL next season.
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