Leighton to start Game 6
Daily News Flyers blog
Leighton to start Game 6
Michael Leighton will be the Flyers' starting goalie for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals tomorrow night at the Wachovia Center.
Although coach Peter Laviolette would not directly answer the question, his answer indicated that it would be Leighton. Leighton has a playoff-best 2.34 goals against average and the second-best save percentage (.918). Leighton is a perfect 6-0 at the Wachovia Center during the playoffs.
"Our goaltender has the best numbers in the playoffs," Laviolette said after the Flyers' 45-minute skate. "I didn't think I had to announce it."
Laviolette followed that by saying: "I don't comment on lineups or goaltenders."
Leighton was pulled for the second time in the finals at the start of the second period Sunday with the Flyers trailing 3-0 in an eventual 7-4 loss. He gave up three goals on 13 shots. Brian Boucher finished the game for the Flyers, allowing three goals on 14 shots.
Boucher's numbers aren't as solid: 2.47 goals against average, .909 save percentage.
"I'm very confident in Michael," Laviolette said. "He's played excellent in the playoffs. His home numbers are terrific. I'm very confident in Michael."
Leighton was not available to speak after Laviolette's news conference, citing the fact that Laviolette had not officially annoucned Wednesday night's starter.
It's too bad the not-surprising secret is out of the bag.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).
Pronger is going to give Bufflin a broad street beat down— EmanuelP
Boucher was thrown into the breach cold both games he played so you really can't compare based on numbers. That being said whoever plays is fine with me.— Howard32- "I was see Pronger get thrown around.." As Mark Twain said (BTW he's a guy who wrote books DMS1337) " It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."— Paul1954
- I've never, in my life, seen more whining from a fan base as Flyers fans. You are all full of more excuses than a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Philly fans should just be happy to be invited to the party. The Hawks have been murdered by cheap shots by your thug Pronger every time the ref turns his head. It's hilarious that Flyer fans even think they have a chance at taking out Chicago. You're all lucky just to be here. Boston and Montreal are farm teams compared to what Chicago went through to get to this point. If not for lucky bounces and bad calls, this series would have been over with in 5 games. What's your excuse going to be tomorrow night when the Blackhawks are skating around your barn with the Cup? After Big Buff gets through raking Pronger through the coals again and hoists the Cup you people will be crying in your beers. If you feel like you're going to puke watching Kane, Toews, Sharp, ect celebrating on your home ice, be sure not to do it on a 13 year old girl. Try and have some class Philly and at least do it on the floor!! GO HAWKS!!— hawkspnt
Pronger took an off-balance hit from Byfuglien. Had the hit been head-on, Byfuglien would still be talking to himself. I guarantee tomorrow night will be a completely different type of game. Lavi will pull his magic with the boys.— dogman5- As a Flyers fan in the Midwest its funny too see the Chicago bandwagon fill up. Most of them were wearing Detroit jerseys before last season and before that it was Colorado. My family bleeds Orange and Black, period. Chicago can talk smack all they want, but where have they been since 1961? At least the Flyers with the exception of a few down seasons have always been in the hunt. As far as I'm concerned game 5 was their worst effort of the playoffs. I believe they can rebound and force a game 7 in FIB-land. Go Flyers.— EdinaEd
- playoff goalie like niemi? that little boy? don't make me laugh. nhl network said he didn't look good--it's just that he didn't have to do much. hawks asst coach or gm said he was the player they had questions about going into the season and now they see he's good. yeah right. they didn't say they had questions about anyone else btw.— liberty_bell
- Dear hawkspnt, stop being a loud mouth FIB and enjoy some great hockey. Philadelphia is the city of our "Founding Fathers." Chicago is the city of corruption. This is clearly a battle of good versus evil. Chicago is evil. If you weren't afraid of us, then you would not be flapping your mouth. Obviously, we've rattled your cage and being forced to live in Chicago has had an effect on your brain cells. Sorry to break it to you but the Eastern Conference is a lot tougher. Chicago would be in the same boat against Montreal, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington or any other team from the east. Your complaining simply because your team is finally facing a team willing to compete. Go Flyers.— EdinaEd
Hey hawkspnt, Is that all you Hawk fans do is bi*ch about Pronger? He's been playing this style of game for many years. Were you complaining about him with all his years beating on your Hawks as a Blue? Oh, never mind. You just just on that Hawk bandwagon huh. You want to see whinning and complaining look no further than yourself. And for the record there's plenty of cheap hits going on with your side of the bench. So just shut up and enjoy these last 2 games will ya?— dianne16- "Philly has learned that you should not dress your city's statues up in jerseys and hat and such. its bad luck." No, rather they make a statue out their greatest sports hero - a fictional character.— cnote100
- Let's hope Prongs keeps hammering em. No more of this stick parallel to the ground stuff. Dress Carcy for Carter and oil the sin bin door. Wear your orange so the cup gets skated in front of 20,000 pumpkins. And for g-ds sake get more beer for the babies!— rollins
- cnote, you're an example of the ignorance by the midwestern chicago "fans." philly didn't make a statue. there was a movie called rocky which was set in PHILLY. the statue was in the movie. again, philly didn't make the statue. hawks are going down. go back to hoping for lebron being a bull and put away your brand new hawks jersey.— liberty_bell
- THE FLYERS DON'T NEED TO WIN 2 GAMES, THEY ONLY NEED TO WIN 1.... THE NEXT ONE..— dedhed
- Go give your 4 year old a beer & go boo santa claus with him you losers. Doesn't matter who you jerks have in nets— HawksWin
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