It's not just that he's never played at the NHL level, he's also 42!!! Even ex professional goalies would have a very difficult time coming back at 42 after being out of the game, called on with no notice to perform as well as Ayres did.
You're 100% right, and there's only been 7 goalies to play the game at an age higher than Ayres. Maurice Roberts & Johnny Bower(45), Gump Worsley - Lester Patrick - Jacques Plante(44), Dom Hasek(43), and Martin Brodeur who's only about 47 days older than David.
Keep in mind that all of these emergency goalies are still active in local leagues so it's not as if they are "out of the game". They just generally not up to the talent level. But for one night, anything can happen.
The class on display is amazing.. especially when the D came up and said "our bad". Then the fan's support after.. Just makes me wish society could do this tbh
How about the play on the puck he made to set up the goal! What a heads up play on Ayers to send the puck around to start a goal scoring rush!!!! The 2 first two goals he allowed were tough shots too that most NHL goalies would have missed. The first shot he was totally screen and it was a well placed sniped shot. The second shot the defense just missed the rebound and allowed the Leafs an easy goal. I can't fault Ayers on any of those goals he was in good position and on the second goal deflected the shot right to his defenseman who missed the rebound. He played lights out and for casual fans I played A level hockey and let me tell you, those goals he allowed were tough and you can't blame Ayers for them.
The second goal was definitely one that every goalie has given up in his career. Tough shot, can´t control the rebound and your D doesn´t clean it up and the forward gets an easy tap in. Everyone has been there. The first one, if he was not completely cold, he might have got down to it quicker, but that was a tough shot to see. The Canes for the most part did an awesome job of protecting him though. They kept the Leafs to 7 shots in the last period. That is great defence.
The first goal probably would have been stopped by an NHL tendy. Can't let one like that sneak under your pad. But gotta give credit where credits due, David Ayers lived the dream of every goalie who never made it to the show. Guys a legend
@UppyMcDowny I don’t know about that, I mean it’s probably accurate but he was screened by a team member too, that puck came under him very fast, high chance normal goaltender might just not of seen it coming in time either. And dropping just cause to anticipate would be nothing more then luck as Tavares could of shot high too
Yeah, the Leafs did that on purpose, so Ayers would be able to keep the puck. it's a good manners thing when you want to pay respect to the opposing goaltender to give him an easy shot right at the end so he has the puck in his glove when time expires. Saves him having to chase it down if he wants the memento. The Canucks did that for Tim Thomas in the Cup finals in 2011 after he shut them out in game 7 Also note who put the puck in Ayres' glove -- Kyle Clifford the guy who accidentally injured Mrazek. They even passed it to Clifford so he could be the one to do it.
If he saved that Pierre Engvall goal it wouldve been the save of the year. He reached for it but didnt quite get it due to being slightly mispositioned but he totally couldve had it.
"IT'S LIKE WHEN... UH, THE GUYS, A GUY!! A GUY, uh, killed John Lennon! Or it's like when he thought Jesus was an absolute JOKE OR SOMETHIN'!!!!" -Me with an Archie Bunker accent to my father
In the end though, he must have been thrilled. The Canes probably played their best game from the moment he came in. The stakes are higher and they know that the reliable, last resort professional goal tending they're accustomed to is not there. Everyone had to up their game and it would appear they did as the Loafs had only 8 shots on him for roughly half a game.
@@christophers.9873 - What makes you think that David Ayres was looking at Brind'Amour? There are 20k people in that arena, and you think that RBA would have done that while Ayres was looking?
@@rushore1 Lol this is over a year old. You seem kinda pressed about it. Just saying, he was definitely frustrated (rightfully so), but like, come on. Dude can't control the situation and he needed the support he got. Just saying in that particular situation, I don't think the coach was right in visibly showing that frustration.
Still haunts me to this day. Makes me think that if Grapes survived the poppy remark, he should've accused Dubas of his "plot to execute the Leafs" and compared him to "the guy who killed John Lennon" including the game to his Jesus remarks as in "WHEN HE THOUGHT JESUS WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE OR SOMETHIN'!!!" leaving Ron Maclean shocked.
1st goal he gave up one of his players was hurt and the guy shooting it is a scorer, The second one would have went in on any backup/older goalie, he just doesn't have the speed or athleticism to get to that at 42
Tbh neither of the goals were really soft. They might not have been impossible saves but even the best goalies of all times have let in weaker goals then this by far. They easily could of let those two in as well, of course even comparing the situations is unfair, none of them are emergency goaltenders who work a normal job and have the pressure of keeping a lead for a team in which you make your nhl debut on as well
So did he have to drive the Zamboni after the game ; ) (My friend drove for the Red Wings a couple times as the 'emergency' driver. well he knew ahead of time they didn't grab him out of the stands. He hated the Gear Daddies song and people banging on the glass lol) Interesting each team must have a sweater with the backup goalie's name on it. He was slow but in position. The 2 goals really weren't his fault. Lazy defense on one and Pesce injured on the other. Brindamour didn't have much confidence in him at first. What did he say after the game? But note to goalies don't skate out halfway to center ice to play the puck. You might get run over. Hope the Canes two goalies are ok. Nice to see the Leafs fans having fun with it. I saw Daryl “Razor” Reaugh the analyst of the Dallas Starts play goal for the ECHL Dayton Bombers. Reaugh was drafted ahead of PAtrick Roy. His former Edmonton teammate Jim Playfair was the head coach. The next thing you know Daryl Reaugh was the radio commentator with Lyle Steig. When he got fired (unfairly he was one of the best) Reaugh took over. I think that's what Reaugh was really there for. The emergency radio broadcaster lol
They actually don’t have a jersey made for the emergency goalie (since it so rareley happens that one plays). About 5 minutes before he went on the ice they had to make a jersey.
*Poem* If in a game between kings, A man beats the kings Is he just a man? For what is a man above What do you call a man above, Above the kings? He must be a god *Haiku* Between gods What do you call their better If he is but man
@@kartoffelschloss6425 - First, he would have to be skating pretty fast, and second, they would have to hit him MUCH harder than they were hitting him for that to happen.
$500, his goalie sweater, and some gifts from the players and coaches (money, wine, etc.). The Canes organization, however, made a David Ayres #90 shirt and split all the proceeds between him and a kidney transplant foundation of his choice. He also did the whole tonight show tour deal and apparently there is a David Ayres movie in pre-production. Seriously.
I must admit, to me it looked like Clifford got there first (just) and the goaltender took him out. I know the games are different, but in soccer the goalie would be hauled up for a sliding tackle with the studs showing, which is probably the closest analogy I can think of.
I don’t agree really at all, if an accidental collision occurs because he went way too far out and tried to play the puck at same time as an opponent then yes, it’s unfortunate but fair game. If the person I get Isley goes after the goalie though that’s just being a bad sport, like lucic hitting Miller on purpose cause he was pissed off that he couldn’t hold on to the puck and lost his breakaway to the call to come challenge him. Doesn’t give him the right to just smoke him on ourpose
And the Leafs lose to the Canes 4-1 last night, and who was in goal for the Canes? The same guy who lost to Ayres! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! You can't make this stuff up!