Boucher could backup in Game 1
Daily News Flyers blog
Boucher could backup in Game 1
Two weeks ago, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said that Brian Boucher’s season was likely over.
Boucher left Game 5 in Boston with MCL sprains in both his right and left knees – and he needed help to be carried off the ice. At that point, the Flyers trailed the Bruins, 3-2, in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Now, Boucher is back practicing with the Flyers – his fourth or fifth time skating since the injury – with hopes that he will be in uniform on Saturday in Chicago for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
“Nobody told me that the season was over for me,” Boucher said. “It wasn’t like I didn’t think I had a chance. I guess this is about where I thought I’d be. For me, I just wanted to work – and there were some hurdles I needed to get over to get to this point.
“Knock on wood, there weren’t any setbacks. So it’s nice to be around the guys again.”
Boucher said there is a chance he could be ready to backup Michael Leighton on Saturday.
“I think there is a chance, yeah,” Boucher said. “I think today was a day to get through, and it went very well. My goal is to be good enough to go for Game 1 and help in any way.”
Since returning to the ice, he’s had to overcome the mental anxiety of re-injuring himself and dealing with the pain at the same time – which doctors said will linger for “at least another month,” Boucher said.
“It’s very methodical. You’ve got to think about your movements. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you might hurt yourself. Today, there was less thinking and it was more just about stopping the puck and moving in situations where I would in a game.”
Boucher was 6-4 for the Flyers in the playoffs this year with a 2.33 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).
It's really a testament to this team that I'm rooting more for the guys individually than for the team itself. I'm a Flyers fan, obviously, but I really just want to see Lappy, Boosh, Richards, Timmonen, and the rest of the guys vindicated after such an incredible season.— elpel- 4 more wins and another HBO documentary on the Flyers wouldn't be totally out of the question!— horhey
- Excellent news. It will be very hard to keep the force field up around Leighton against this team, and then we will need an NHL goalie again.— eagle1971
Boooooosh!
Comment removed.- let's start him in Game 1!— chrissays
- If he is 100% let him back up Leighton. Anything less and he should not suit up unless he has to in order to get his name on the cup...he deserves that without a doubt.— cbecko
Pull Leighton? Are you on crack? Sit Chris while you're at it. Suit up Cote and scratch Danny. Mike needs a rest, sit him a game or two. Wouldn't know a diamond if you held it in your hand. Wanna buy a bridge? I have a large selection.- Have always liked Boooouch. He got us into the playoffs. If he's 100% healthy before we win The Cup, he deserves to get in a game.— Marty Riley
- lol 9th Street— ericyshel
- I love Boooosh too, but this isn't little league where everyone gets to play. This is the Stanley Cup FINALS! Leighton plays unless he's injured— ericyshel
- Wouldn't it be fitting if Leighton went down the game that Boosh comes back and Boosh carries them to the cup?— Digityman
- @Digityman- YES...I was thinking the same thing.— CrazyIvan
they trailed 3-1 not 3-2 at that point. it was game 5..... jeeze. thats not even a typo, just simple math.— azguz- I realize it's not little league. I didn't say, Boucher should start. I'd just like to see him get in a game. A perfect scenario would be.... IF Leighton gave up 4 in the first period, put Boooouch in. Something like that. I know it's a reach, but anything's possible.— Marty Riley
