Kevin Weekes didn't look very good on Montreal's first goal in Game 2, when it looked like he had the puck in his midsection but it instead dropped and Saku Koivu pounced on it. The other two goals -- empty-net goals don't count when you're talking goalies -- were good plays by the Canadiens. He had no chance on Doug Gilmour's deflection to the short side, and the Andrei Markov's goal was a thing of beauty. All the 'Canes were looking at Koivu with the puck and not Markov flying down the wing.

If Carolina's management and coaches want to see if Weekes is teh real deal, they have to see how he responds in a difficult and pressure-filled atmosphere in Montreal. Can you imagine how many goalies in the history of the game would have been buried if they didn't get back in the net after a loss? Look at all the great athletes who bounce back after poor performances. If the Hurricanes lose Game 3 in Montreal and it doesn't go well for Weekes, then they can go back to the little big man, Arturs Irbe, for Game 4. If they go to Irbe for Game 3, and he is rusty and falters, they lose the confidence of two goalies in the process. Irbe is a pro, and he'll be ready to go no matter what, but I doubt that Weekes could bounce back effectively if he sits on the bench and thinks about the rebound he left for Koivu.

Goalie mind games
Avalanche head coach Bob Hartley made an interesting comment following the 8-2 drubbing of the Sharks in Game 2. He mentioned that he "wouldn't be surprised to see (Miikka) Kiprusoff" in Game 3.

Sounds like he's trying to get in the kitchen of the Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov, and rattle around a few pans in the process. There is no doubt the Sharks will go back to Nabokov. He is cool under fire and even-keeled regardless how things go.

It sounds like coach Darryl Sutter asked Nabokov after the second period if he wanted to stay in the game or come out and get some rest for Game 3. Nabokov chose to stay in, but after his defense and forwards forgot to come back and help in the early parts of the third ... well, that was enough of that. And who could blame him? We will now see if he has the resilience to bounce back like all great goalies have done.

More than one way to stop a game
Why did it take so long for Joe Sakic to be awarded his goal in Game 3?

His shot went off the short-side post, into the net, off the camera in the middle of the net and out. At first it was hard to tell, but the "ping" off the post sounded odd, so something was up. During that time, Brad Stuart had taken a cross-checking penalty on Rob Blake. The play went back and forth before the whistle sounded and Stuart was sent to the penalty box.

By that time, it was obvious from our ABC replays that Sakic scored. But the referees, who thought the puck went off the post, felt no need to consult with the video judge, who at that time was trying to get their attention, but couldn't. Once the puck is dropped, there is no review of the goal. So the Avs' video coach, former NHL'er Eric Lacroix, is jumping on the boards, waving his arms trying to get the attention of the officials before they dropped the puck.

The result was a long delay, and an embarrassing discovery -- there is no way to get a referee's attention if it's outside of the parameters of a television time out.

In that situation, the video replay/NHL supervisor has to make the decision to review the goal quickly. Turning on the red light -- which indicates a TV timeout -- would give the video replay judge enough time to properly review it, and wouldn't necessitate a video coach standing up on the boards, humiliating a referee and forcing a long delay in the game.

The NHL's video review system is one of the best in sports, but there are obviously a few kinks to work out.

And yes, the penalty to Stuart still stands after the goal was awarded.

Darren Pang, a former goaltender with the Chicago Blackhawks, is a hockey analyst for ESPN.