Bob or Bryz: Who should get Winter Classic nod?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Bob or Bryz: Who should get Winter Classic nod?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH _ So did Sergei Bobrovsky’s strong performance in Thursday’s 4-2 win in Pittsburgh complicate matters for head coach Peter Laviolette?
In other words, will Laviolette have a difficult time selecting a goalie for Monday’s Winter Classic against the New York Rangers?
“What a big win tonight,” Laviolette said, sidestepping the question with a smirk."Let's stick to tonight right now. I mean, I'm not even out of the building."
Bobrovsky continued to look like the team’s best goalie, winning for the fifth time in his last six appearances.
For the season, Bobrovsky is 8-2-1 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. In his last six games, his GAA is around 1.60 and his save percentage is near .940.
Starter Ilya Bryzgalov, who has lost four straight, is 14-8-3 with a 3.01 GAA and .890 save percentage.
If Laviolette was picking his goalie strictly on performance, he would choose Bobrovsky. He is playing with more confidence and is making more clutch saves than Bryzgalov, who signed a nine-year $51 million contract in the summer.
But if Laviolette gives Bob the nod in one of the showcase games of the NHL season, he risks the chance of diluting Bryzgalov’s already-shaky confidence.
For that reason, the hunch here is he reluctantly gives Bryzgalov the start.
What would you do?
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Bryzgalov, was back to being his playful, jovial self as he kidded with reporters following the morning skate. He also said he was “frustrated” by his inconsistent play.
His formula to turn around his game?
“Be patient and work hard and maybe the bounces start going your way,” he said.
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Cheers: Jaromir Jagr scored the game’s pivotal goal in his return to Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Jeers: Somehow, Jagr was not given one of the game’s three stars.
Cheers: In a classy move, the Penguins showed highlights of Max Talbot’s career with Pittsburgh on their scoreboard during a first-period stoppage. Talbot is in his first year with the Flyers.
Jeers: A Penguins fan held up a Flyers jersey that had an obscene version of Jagr’s name on the back of it _ and it was shown on the scoreboard as the crowd roared. Classless.
* * *
Jagr gave the Flyers the lead for good, at 2-1, with 13:57 left in the middle period. He made a clever move in the slot, and his backhander beat Marc-Andre Fleury to the short side.
“It was important not only for him, but for the whole team to get that goal,” said Claude Giroux, who boosted his league-leading points total to 46 with a pair of assists. “He got it pretty tough from the fans, but I think he kind of liked it a little bit.”
* * *
A smiling Jagr enjoyed telling writers how his backchecking helped prevent James Neal from scoring an early goal.
“Remember me for the Selke!” he said.
The Selke is given to the league’s best defensive forward.
* * *
Winger James van Riemsdyk, apparently bothered by a lower-body injury, played just 9:36. Only Harry Zolnierczyk played fewer minutes for the Flyers.
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The Flyers have the day off Friday; the Flyers’ alumni will practice Friday in Voorhees at 4 p.m. as they prepare for Saturday’s game against the Rangers’ alums.
* * *
Defenseman Kimmo Timonen had another strong game: He scored his first goal of the season, was plus-2, blocked four shots and had two hits while playing 22 minutes. He is quietly having an all-star season.
* * *
Brayden Schenn (four hits) had the best game of his brief Flyers career.
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Bryz has the pretty brown pads and freshly painted mask for the game....Bob doesn't. Unfortunately Lavis hands are ties here even if he wanted to play Bob he knows the big boss won't have it...even if the Big Boss knows who should be in between the pipes on Monday. Its really only 2 pts when you boil it down....not the Stanley Cup.— bhornung- Bryz should start. If he can't showcase his best for this game then it answers a few questions going forward. If he sucks in the first period pull him....and bench him until he responds in a very positive way and play bob going forward. This should be his finest moment...if not, to the bench for punishment— Pocono Phlyer
- I'm already on record saying BOB will start. But what about the mask? Bryz has that awesome WC mask ready to go. What will HBO, NBC and the rest of the media talk about if Bryz isn't wearing the mask in goal?
Thx,
Jay! - My guess is that Lavvy will start Bryz. If this game was a regular game at the Wells Fargo Center my bet would on Bob starting.. I do think they want to see Bryz play in a hyped game and that a good performance might get him back on track..— bradco
- Got to go with Bob ... Bryz is too busy being a 24/7 star ..— chetski0722
- Jagr helps them win 2 cups and they treat him like that.— edith bunker
- If Bryz starts the WC, I will be turning it off. Bobrosky has more than earned the right to start this game. He has stayed focused where Bryz has been nothing but distracted. Until he regains his ability to focus,which he has not to this point in time, he needs to ride the pine. Bryz is a much better than he has shown to date for the Flyers but right now he is not the answer.— flyerrod
- 158 votes?!? Somebody needs to take away Bryz's computer...— flyerrod
- Talk about shaking someones confidance ,What about BoBs he has done every thing thats been asked of him thus far this season.He has great focus ,great saves,steady and consistant.Bob is good enough be a starter for any team in the NHL,he will ask to be traded and go one and be a superstar on another team if the Flyers are not careful.Sit Bryz send him to the Ahl,or on aspaceship to explore the universewith his dog.just get him out of the net before its to late.The Flyers as a team play much better with Bob in nets,and from the 24/7 i get the feeling most of the players don't take to Byrz that well.just sayin!— Gullysflyers
- The Flyers have been playing better in front of Bob because he has been solid. Take Tampa - its tough to play hard when Bryz lets in a putrid first goal. They fight back to tie it, and then he lets in another softie. The other goals weren't exactly his fault, but not too much to ask him to make a tough save. Contrast with the Pitt game - Bob was there when there was breakdowns and made all the saves he should have. It could all change for the playoffs, but right now the hot hand is Bob. — gob1234
- First of all i would like to say, i was unhappy with the Jagr signing but I am a convert. he has been nothing but great and has been a team player, very classy. As far as Pittsburgh fans go, not talking about Steelers fans, but Pens fans are and will always be frontrunners-enough said. Bryz will start the classic just so Ed can save face. Also Bob has played good when given the chance but he is still giving up those quick goals 1-2 minutes into a game— debbyt
- Frankly, what with the way each of them has played--really the entire season--Bob certainly deserves to play. Bryz is about where he has been for his entire career, and as I noted BEFORE the signing he's certainly not worth those big bucks!— BEMiller
BoB has earned the start .. he's been the best goalie lately. Bryz has admitted to no confidence... why risk getting his a** handed to him again, in front of a national audience.- I think we should wait and see how Bernie does on Saturday.— stefek23
