Boosh? Bob? Lavy won't say
Who's the goaltender in Game 3 for the Flyers?
Boosh? Bob? Lavy won't say
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Brian Boucher?
Sergei Bobrovsky?
Game 3?
Coach?
“I don’t talk about goaltenders,” Peter Laviolette said. He also says he does not talk about injuries or lineups. The man is no fun -- except that, in the absence of word from the Flyers’ coach, everyone is just going to revert to speculation-on-overdrive about the identity of the Flyers’ starting goalie on Monday night in Buffalo.
We all saw what happened. We have seen it happen a bunch of times before. Bobrovsky started Game 2 against the Sabres and allowed three first period goals on seven shots and that was that. In came Boucher, who brings a steadiness to his business that Bobrovsky cannot always harness.
“There’s a calmness to him,” Laviolette said. “There’s a presence about him.”
Thereafter, Boucher was excellent in the Flyers’ 5-3 victory, stopping 21 out of 22 shots and really having no chance on the one that got past him. Hence, the questions.
Boucher is unflappable in the post-game interview process, too, whenever this happens. He talks about being prepared and bring used to the role of backup and all of that. He never complains about his inability to secure the position as the Flyers' starter. He has been around the block a dozen times and he has been hit by a few punches along the way and he just rolls with them, expertly.
The issue for Laviolette is this: how would Bobrovsky react mentally if the decision was made to go here to Boucher -- and would it matter? Bobrovsky is a kid, and this is his first rodeo and, well, what if they made the change and he went in the tank mentally and then the Flyers needed him again in a few days or weeks?
That is the question hanging there in the back of everyone's mind. That is why Laviolette makes the big money. Because Boucher would respond well, regardless of the decision, is also why he makes the big money.
With that, we wait.
“It’s something we’ll deal with tomorrow,” Boucher said. “Either way, I’ll be ready.”
Comments (37)
"Thereafter, Boucher was excellent in the Flyers’ 5-3 victory"
Except they won 5-4.— tripleplay83- BOOOSSSHHHHH!!— Inchon
- Bobrovsky, pulled in 2 of his last 3 games. Has let 7 goals in, on 42 shots. In the 2 games he was pulled, Boucher got the win. In the one game he wasn't pulled, Bobrovsky got the loss. The only real question is, who backs up Boucher?— Hexy4GM
- Leighton. Period— Boston Flyer
- There is a reason BOB was undrafted. We unfortunately are seeing it now. Shame on Holmgren for not upgrading the goaltending when he could have.
If BOB is the goalie of our future, the only parade we'll see is on new years day— Boston Flyer - Power Play Goal after a deflection in front changed direction twice...Power Play Goal after FIVE attempts from the post without a single Flyer clearing the crease...3 on 1 odd-man break...Pulled from game. Please tell me one memorable save Boucher made this evening...he was steady, but the pace of the game changed after adjustments during intermission. Boucher may steal a game or two, but does not possess the ability Bobrovsky does, nor the potential to steal a series or the cup. BOB is the better goalie, and anyone who watches hockey before the playoffs each year knows that.— tkohl
- @tkohl, that is a pretty crazy outlook on those goals you have there. Bobrovsky was literally out of his crease from over pursuing a puck to his left. He lost his post and let in a goal from behind the net. The third goal was the result of him being too deep in his crease and sitting down, rather than standing tall, in his butterfly. Those 5 attempts are pretty that you saw are pretty interesting, since he made 4 saves in the game. Boucher made a great save in his first minute of play, and had at least three important saves in the game. I remind you that they won by one goal. Your last statement is ridiculous, so it will not be responded to.— Hexy4GM
Comment removed.- Seems like a lot of you remember the one goal Leighton let in, rather than the several games where he didn't allow a goal. Getting beat by a team that is outplaying you, in the Stanley Cup Finals, is far more forgivable than losing to a low seeded, first-round opposition, that you are outplaying. Bobrovsky has been pulled 2 of his last three games. — Hexy4GM
- Bob was scrambly and overplayed the puck. He looked like a goalie from our Sunday night men's league games. Bob needs go to the press box because he is too inconsistent. 50/50 chance that you get the bad bob.
When are rich or frank going to put the question to Paul holmgren. He went on record this summer as saying they didn't need to upgrade their goaltending. I think based on the results of the last few months Paul needs to either admit he was completely wrong or snider needs to fire him.— lockmaster - The problem was not that they didn't upgrade their goaltending, it is that they downgraded it. Bobrovsky needed a season in the AHL before he would be NHL ready. — Hexy4GM
- I would go with Boucher.— ej610
- Booosh gives them the best chance in Buffalo, he has the experience. Our power play is pathetic— yourdaddy!
- Bob one more time.— bobbyd24
- Consistency is the key to winning playoff games. You know what you get with Boucher: consistent, steady goaltending. Not superb, expect to give up on average 2 goals a game. But steady. You do not know what you will get from game to game with BOB right now. Go with the steady hand.— Hexfoliation
- I posted before the season to look out for this Bobrovsky kid. But next game Boucher starts, period.— hallux
- I posted before the season to look out for this Bobrovsky kid. But next game Boucher starts, period.— hallux
- I posted before the season to look out for this Bobrovsky kid. But next game Boucher starts, period.— hallux
- The net seems to look a little bigger with Bob in there, just saying.— JJFrench
- Shocktroop, yeah I'm sure everyone remembers that Cup winning goal from last year, but let it go. It's in the past, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. You don't think Leighton would like to redeem himself? Not saying he should play, just saying it's yesterdays news. Also, watching Scott Hartnell is worth the price of Center Ice. He's a funny guy! :) <3.— dianne16
- Sure, the stats look bad: 3 goals on 7 shots. But, weren't 2 of those goals scored on the power play? You can't blame a goalie when he gets scored on while the other team has a man (or more) advantage. And who cares whether he was standing or not for the 3rd goal. It went under his arm. Maybe he'd like to have that one back, but you can't really blame him on the other 2. And Ryan Miller didn't look much better for the Sabres. I think Laviolette is an outstanding coach, probably one of the best the Flyers have ever had, but I think he gives up too quickly sometimes on the goaltender. The first period was an anomaly for both teams.
The Flyers' biggest problem isn't between the pipes. Rather, it is in front of the opposition's net. For some bizarre reason, this team can not consistently park a guy in front of the net as 1) a screen, and 2) to be there for the rebound. It's very hard to score when the goalie sees every shot, and no one is there to knock in a rebound. Even on the power play, this team doesn't seem to have someone in front of the net on a consistent basis.— Anti-Stepford Fan - So...a goalie isn't allowed to make saves while on the power play? Shouldn't the score have been 10-8 for the Flyers then? Buffalo was on the power play for 6 of the first 8 minutes of the third period. I think Boucher made at least one save in that time. The fact that you think Miller did not look good in this game, explains your knowledge of goaltending. If Bobrovsky played goal for Buffalo tonight, the Flyers hit double digits. — Hexy4GM
- Shocktroop: You say Leighton sucked b/c he has a terrible Cup winning goal? Have you seen Sportscenter's Top 10 Worst NHL Playoff Goals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnDnDZ9Qhp8)? There are some uglier goals on there from behind center ice, behind the net, and my personal favorite one where Brodeur scored on himself on a dump in (in the Finals no less). Do all those guys suck? Most of them have held the Cup, so I would say no. Check out the stats i am about to post and decide for yourself which goalie you would want.— snipesmorris
- I'm sorry but if you know an ounce about hockey you can see everything that is wrong with Bob's game in goal # 3. Sunk deep into his crease, fell to his knees and became very very small. That goal could have been scored by a high school hockey player. He over commits way too much and can not make himself big. the acrobatic saves are great but often times a response to poor positioning. That being said...Boosh just is what he is. Average.— ant8817
- I really think Bob is the goalie of the future but the goalies of this playoff year should be Boosh & Leighton. Homer had his chance to get a solid #1 and he didn't and Bob is shaky in too many of his recent games. There's too much at stake here and Boosh is the hot hand now. Sorry, gotta go with Boosh in game 3.— Kanayd
- bostonflyer- your a putz!— dexter55
- bostonflyer- your a putz!— dexter55
- People forget that Leighton played last year with the ruptured disc, inpain and not very mobile. Even with that he carrioed this team a long way. Word is, he is much better now and he certainly plays "bigger" in net than little Bob and Boosh. However, Boosh earns the right to show us what he's got. If he falters or gets hurt again, I say give Leighton a chance.— Mark1npt
- I completely agree. Boosh has earned it based upon tonight and this season. Leights if he falters.
- Go with Brian...Bob is not ready for prime time— phillyfan19335
- Bob Barker is on a shorter leash now!WOOOOOF— NYPHILLYPHAN
- CARTER for Bernier or any other starter / backup. Just get rid of this guy. Why doesn't Lavy just tape this guy for a game. Turnover and walytz back to watch the SOG. Be a spectator but do it from the box. Sit Carter not Z.— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
forget about bob until he takes his head out of the trashcan he's had his head in almost all season.— kdub13- most of the people on here who criticize Leights have no clue what kind of year he had, much less how outstanding he's been since christmas;....they just think that they can throw around the other 29 gm's money on Leighton's contract like candy,....i think there are 8-10 legit teams out there that would have loved to take a Flyer on Leighton's contract, but didn't due to salary cap and economical constraints,....no pun intended,......and we may see Leights here before its over— SyddBarrett
How would Bob react mentally if he is benched? How is he going to react mentally if he doesn't win a single playoff game with the league's 3rd highest finishing team? At this point, he will be far worse off if they go down with him in the net than if they go down with him on the bench. He has been rushed into the starting role and it is showing. Furthermore, if he can't come back in and perform if needed, it's just more evidence he wasn't ready for the pressure in the first place.— icarus
Nothing to loose starting Bob, you can alway go to Boucher, but if Boosh gets shelled you have to go to Bob or Leaky
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