Thursday, May 23, 2013

Subscriber Services |

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Broad Street Bull

Flyers headed for surgery; Bryz's ranking, 'Giroux's Tears'

The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull

55 comments

Flyers headed for surgery; Bryz's ranking, 'Giroux's Tears'

POSTED: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 10:34 AM

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

Several Flyers will undergo offseason surgery, the team will announce during the upcoming week.

Paul Holmgren, the Flyers’ GM, said he would have a report a few days ago, but the list is apparently so lengthy that it had to be delayed while more players get examined to see if surgery is required.

One of the Flyers’ biggest problems in the stunning five-game loss to New Jersey was that they had problems getting out of their defensive zone. Injuries to defenseman Kimmo Timonen and Nick Grossmann contributed; both had knee injuries, among other ailments, and both are expected to be on the lengthy surgery list.

* * * * * *

Bryz ranking. How did Ilya Bryzgalov compare with Flyers goalies over the last 10 seasons?

He tied for the most wins in a season over the last decade, was fourth in goals-against average and seventh in save percentage.

The numbers on Flyers goalies who played the most games in each of the last 10 seasons:

GP Record GAA SP

2001-02 Roman Cechmanek 46 24-13-6 2.05 .921
2002-03 Roman Cechmanek 58 33-15-10 1.83 .925
2003-04 Robert Esche 40 21-11-7 2.04 .915
2004-05 lockout
2005-06 Antero Niittymaki 46 23-15-6 2.97 .895
2006-07 Antero Niittymaki 52 9-29-9 3.38 .894
2007-08 Marty Biron 62 30-20-9 2.59 .918
2008-09 Marty Biron 55 29-19-5 2.76 .915
2009-10 Brian Boucher 33 9-18-3 2.76 .899
2010-11 Sergei Bobrovsky 54 28-13-8 2.59 .915
2011-12 Ilya Bryzgalov 59 33-16-7 2.48 .909

* * * * *

In a Russian interview for SovSport that was translated for Puck Daddy at Yahoo!, the Penguins Evgeni Malkin was asked about there being a "sort of beer" in Philadelphia called Crosby's Tears.

Malkin laughed.

"What can I say? I don't think I can say anything. This is Philadelphia and they all know how they feel toward Pittsburgh and Crosby. I hope next year we will beat them and come up with our own beer and call it maybe Giroux's Tears."

Malkin was also asked how Bryzgalov can handle the pressure of playing in Philly.

"I know it is tough and it affects your psyche, first of all. But he should have realized that Philadelphia is just that kind of a city, and it has always been like that," Malkin said. "Maybe he could have stayed in Phoenix and it would have been different? I don't know. You can never know what lies ahead.

"In a career of a hockey player it's important to 'guess a fit' sort of speak and get on the right team, the right coach, the right fans. It's not always what it seems. But you have to get over it. I know (Ilya) Kovalchuk had some tough times in New Jersey when he first joined the team. It was tough to think that Bryzgalov would go to Philadelphia and they would win the Cup that first year. But they have a great team and will have a real chance to win it next year."

Since Bryz has eight more years on his contract, it "means he will compete for the Cup every year he is in Philadelphia with the squad they have over there," Malkin said. "Just get some patience. You can't get anywhere in sports without patience.

"And one more advice: don't read papers and talk less to the media."

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.

55 comments

Previous Story: Bryz fed up with scrutiny

Next Story: Surgery for five Flyers

Comments (55)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:40 AM, 05/12/2012

Bring back Antero Niittymaki!

He will make Bryz look better.

— backhand

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:45 AM, 05/12/2012

Those numbers for Cechmanek and Esche are deceiving when you consider the clutching and grabbing that was prevalent prior to the lock out.

— Chasev

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:13 PM, 05/14/2012

Actually, those numbers have a lot more to do with the demands of Ken Hitchcock. Players under his aggressive forecheck are REQUIRED to be responsible defensively (unlike the current coach). If you look at Hitch's career path, and look at the numbers for his goaltenders, you will see the correlation. He rarely has the best goaltender, but he routinely has the goaltender with the best numbers.

Roman Cechmanek, Steve Mason, and Brian Elliot all led the league in several goaltending statistics under Ken Hitchcock. Outside of his system, none have them have proven to be of professional calibre.

Coaching. Not goaltending. Killed this club.

— Hexy4GM

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:23 AM, 05/12/2012

Bryz numbers are just more of the same ...year in and year out we lack quality goaltending the same old story...and we are locked into this guy for the next decade...very sad prospect for the FLYERS knowing this is your goaltending for the decaed..It was a decision that will kill the franchise for years....Maybe BRYZ is on the list for surgeries ...cant they implant an attitude change with surgery?? Someone who cares ??

— flyers1000

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:28 AM, 05/12/2012

09-10 numbers should include Leightons 27 16-5-2 2.48 .920

— bosso_fataka

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:15 PM, 05/14/2012

The article mentions that those numbers are for the goalie that played the most games for the Flyers in that particular year. Leighton's 27 < Boucher's 33

— Hexy4GM

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:28 AM, 05/12/2012

09-10 numbers should include Leightons 27 16-5-2 2.48 .920

— bosso_fataka

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:22 PM, 05/12/2012

It's bad enough that he gave us only one good month. But after reading how brutal Bryz thought the scrutiny was his first year, I can't root for the flake anymore. I'd love to see him traded to say, New York. Then he'll know what real scrutiny is.

— VicM

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:44 PM, 05/12/2012

Leave it to a Penguin to add a rational voice to the incessant crying of the Philadelphia Whiners, er, Philadelphia Cryers, I mean, Flyers.

— Tom Pandolfo

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:54 PM, 05/12/2012

"Rational voice?" Ya mean the guy who threw an elbow to Grossman's head don't you? What goes around comes around. Hope Mr. Malkin gets the same Karma he gives out. As for Mr. Crosby--the opinion is league wide on him. Not just in Philly. Keep up the "bunker mentality" you'll need it!!

— SpokaneFlyer

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:36 PM, 05/12/2012

A rational voice? LOL This guy has been on Philly.com for weeks, crying about the Flyers beating the Penguins.
He calls himself, rational? LOL Yo Tommy, this is for you:

Best Pittsburgh Psychiatrists:
www.angieslist.com/companylist/pittsburgh/psychiatry.htm

— FlyerFan4Life

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:09 PM, 05/12/2012

I don't always agree with you, but I gotta admit, most of your posts leave me LMAO...

— backhand

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:46 PM, 05/12/2012

And of course, not lost on all of you experts are these facts...
It was Bryz's fault that the defensemen were often so out of position, he was often left hung out to dry.
It was Bryz's fault that he had to face so many odd-man rushes.
And without a doubt, it was Bryz's fault that the forwards could not get the puck out of his zone; no sooner did the forwards cough it up a center ice, the Devils were charging back in right at him.
All of this was his fault and his alone. Get rid of him. And forget the blunders of the team in front of him...

— JosephL

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:46 PM, 05/12/2012

YoJoe! Rational discourse like this is not all that appreciated, ya know? Just kidding! Sarcastic point taken.

— SpokaneFlyer

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:40 PM, 05/12/2012

I agree with Joseph. I thought Bryz was figuring things out and too often got hung out to dry. He is not a real worry for next year for me...defence needs an overhaul..Please, please sign Suter! Hang in there Bryz. been a flyers fan all my life and have seen what this city does to goalies, we all need to take a pill and give the man a chance, I like him and he does have the talent.

— johnnycrunch