Backlund to make NHL debut tomorrow
It’s an intrepid move, but it’s one that Flyers coach Peter Laviolette hopes will give his team a spark they desperately need tomorrow in Pittsburgh. Johan Backlund, the Phantoms’ starter for most of the season, will make his NHL debut in net for the Flyers tomorrow afternoon in their final appearance at Mellon Arena. It is the Flyers' first of back-to-back games this weekend, with the Devils visiting the Wachovia Center on Sunday night. "I hope they trust me," Backlund told reporters after today's practice. "It would be a great chance to play my first game and try to help the team. We have to win games here to [stay] in the playoffs." Backlund's name was at the top of the Flyers' depth chart for practice today, even though Laviolette wouldn't give any hints as to his lineup.
Backlund to make NHL debut tomorrow
It’s an intrepid move, but it’s one that Flyers coach Peter Laviolette hopes will give his team a spark they desperately need tomorrow in Pittsburgh.
Johan Backlund, the Phantoms’ starter for most of the season, will make his NHL debut in net for the Flyers tomorrow afternoon in their final appearance at Mellon Arena. It is the Flyers' first of back-to-back games this weekend, with the Devils visiting the Wachovia Center on Sunday night.
"I hope they trust me," Backlund told reporters after today's practice. "It would be a great chance to play my first game and try to help the team. We have to win games here to [stay] in the playoffs."
Backlund's name was at the top of the Flyers' depth chart for practice today, even though Laviolette wouldn't give any hints as to his lineup.
Backlund, 28, is far from a rookie – even though this is his first professional season in North America. He started more than 50 games each of the past four seasons in the Swedish Elite League.
He posted a 2.79 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 41 starts with the Phantoms this season.
Backlund will replace Brian Boucher, who hasn’t been able to hold down the Flyers’ starting job when it has been handed to him this season. Boucher allowed three unanswered goals – including the game-winner, which he kicked into his own net – in the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota on Thursday. It was the Flyers’ fourth consecutive loss.
Speaking before Laviolette had made his decision, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren had high praise for Backlund. Holmgren said before Thursday night's loss that he would be comfortable with Backlund in net.
"I'd actually relish the opportunity to watch him," Holmgren said. "He's done everything we've asked in the American League and he's won games singlehandedly down there."
More coming…
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This is an all-in move by Lavi and Homer with deuce-seven off suit but we are on life support and Boosh is a statue in net. Maybe we flop a set of sevens against Cindy's pocket Aces and Backlund ends up being a nice surprise...we have nothing to lose so get the chips in the middle and let it ride!— BleedOrange- Forgot my prediction for tomorrow...2-1 Flyers in OT Briere with the game winner...— BleedOrange
- Cleflyer.....awesome comment, best and funniest I have read in long time.....sums up the last 20 plus years of Flyers goaltender futility...."How bad is Bernie's eye"— dawetzel
- Talk about screwed up. The Flyers must use Boucher in the playoffs. Earlier in the year I posted to not let him near the pipes. Guess what?
- The Flyers face a rough last 8 games. Pittsburgh and NJ back to back, with both of those teams battling for the division. Then a break with the Isles, but back hard with the Habs and Detroit. Then they finish with a Toronto team that is hot right now and has nothing to lose and a back to back against the Rangers, and Sean Avery, who has been a Flyer killer. They could easily finish with just 2 points out of their last 8 games.— JSaq
- Well getting back to the previous question, if the Flyers do lose today, well they probaly wont make the playoffs and if they do, they will be out in 5 or 4 games no matter who they face. But I have a very strong feeling they will win today, again 5-3 or 4-2 I hope I'm right!— Phillycronical
- hate to say it jsaq but something tells me hardly a break with the isles as THEY have been playing much better lately...unlike "some" teams and we have that win streak going against them of like what...14 games...that i fear is going to come back to haunt us in this one!?! sorry to sound so negative...because of the situation homer has gotten us into it's desperate measures from a desperate organization...perhaps johan will be able to channel pelle today...— phillyflyer31
- and REEEALLY...THAT'S the only pic they could find to post of this guy...him getting smoked?!? thought it was boosh in backlunds uni and equipment...i'm thinking...not hoping...thinking we might be seeing that quite a bit today unfortunately...would love for him to prove me wrong...god knows i was wrong about boosh!— phillyflyer31
- yeah snipes...YOU have been sooo spot on...it's how you must own us...we take 2 minor penalties in the 1st to their NONE and a gargantuan rebound goal...it's almost like some things never change...glad we got that fluke goal...— phillyflyer31
- the more things change...the more they stay the same there snipes buddy...LOOK...another rebound goal...are we sure that's not boosh wearing a different number?!? nice to see we can get ripped off of another clear goal...in cindyland once again too!— phillyflyer31
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- sooo...what do i get for my prediction phillycronical?!?— phillyflyer31
- actually i cheated though...i knew they were gonna get screwed...AGAIN...out of a goal in cindyland and i still need someone to explain that "phantom" call on hartnell in the 3rd there when he was tied up with cindy that lead to the 4th goal on the pp...technically we can call that a 3-2 game not that it really matters at this point! can't remember in my 35+ years of watching these guys seeing a more lifeless team wear the black & orange!?!— phillyflyer31
