Both Flyer goalies rank in Top 30

CHICAGO -- It's amazing what a difference a run to the Stanley Cup Finals and the miraculous find of a diamond in the rough can do for your franchise's public perspective.

In its annual "goalie edition," the Hockey News ranked both of the Flyers' goaltenders among the Top 30 goalies in the NHL after the organization didn't have a single goalie among the league's best 30 last season.

The magazine hits newsstands on Jan. 30.

Brian Boucher, at No. 23, barely edged out rookie teammate Sergei Bobrovsky, who finished No. 24 in the rankings.

Interestingly, sure fire Hall of Famer Marty Brodeur did not make the cut. Exactly 12 players - including the Flyers' tandem - were not ranked last year but made the list this year, including Carey Price who moved all the way up to No. 3.

Perhaps the most interesting figure published in the magazine is the fact that the top-end teams in the NHL spend the least on their goaltending.

Out of the 10 teams who spend the most on their goaltending, eight of them would not qualify for the playoffs if they started today. The Rangers, who spend more with Henrik Lundqvist and Marty Biron than anyone else, and Canucks, with Roberto Luongo, are the only two teams who would.

The Flyers spend a combined $2.65 million on their goaltending, the sixth least in the NHL. Michael Leighton's salary of $1.55 million - while he is stashed in AHL Adirondack - does not factor into that figure, since it doesn't count against the salary cap. Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Columbus and Detroit are the only teams who spend less.

QUIRKY RULE? At first glance, Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn turned in a decent statistical outing in Sunday's win over the Blackhawks: a plus-2 rating with a team-high 5 hits, one blocked shot and two shots on goal.

But Coburn was charged with covering the puck in the Flyers' crease during a scrum in the third period, which resulted in Marian Hossa's penalty shot goal.

"I don't know what happened," Coburn said. "I was just trying to get the puck out of the crease. Going through it in my mind, I was just swimming on the ice, flailing my arms."

Defensemen aren't allowed to close their hand on the puck - and that's the way it should be. But shouldn't Coburn have been charged with a minus since the play resulted in a goal?

What do you think?