Boucher starting; Emery's act growing thin
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Boucher starting; Emery's act growing thin
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
MONTREAL _ Backup goalie Brian Boucher will get the start Monday night in Montreal, coach Peter Laviolette said after the morning skate.
Boucher said the team was anxious to get untracked in Laviolette's second game as the Flyers' coach.
"We want to get a solid game under our belts and get the first vistory and get rolling," said Boucher, whose team has lost seven of its last eight.
The Flyers were manhandled by Washington, 8-2, in Laviolette's Flyers debut Saturday.
"Obvioulsy, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong," Boucher said. "It's unfortunate it had to start off like that, but hopefiully we can get off on the right foot here with a good solid road game."
Ray Emery, the usual starter, has struggled mightily in his last five games, compiling a 5.36 goals-against average and an .814 save percentage.
Emery was his gregarious self in front of Montreal TV cameras after practice Monday morning, giving lengthy thought-out responses. But he turned sour and again gave one- and two-word responses to questions asked by the Philadelphia media.
Strange. Very strange.
Laviolette said Emery is bothered by "nagging injuries" but was healthy enough to play.
Riley Cote will be in the lineup Monday, replacing the suspended Dan Carcillo.
Laviolette is tinkering with his lineup, flip-flopping wingers Danny Briere and Claude Giroux.
Here is how the lines will look Monday night:
Hartnell-Richards-Giroux; JVR-Carter-Briere; Laperriere-Pyorala-Asham; Nodl-Kalinski-Cote.
Man, you call not wanting to deal with the media while in the middle of a slump having his act wearing thin? Jeez, glad the guy is still getting a fair shot in this town. It's bad enough that most of the posts here are by people that don't know the difference between a hockey puck and a hamster, but for you get on Emery for not answering to your liking is just irresponsible on your part. He hasn't refused to talk to you, thrown anything at you, or lashed out at anyone. You guys love to stir the pot. The team is in the toilet. Carcillo is public enemy number one for the morons who think they understand hockey. And there's a new coach to second guess. Did you really need to go here with Emery?
Emery will be fine, Boosh will be fine, and once the many talented stars on this team pull the new coach's foot out of their collective hind ends, they will be fine also. The Flyers will get hot, make the playoffs easily, etc. You will all see. Boston will also be destroyed on national TV Jan. 1. There's plenty of skill on the Flyers' roster including players like Carcillo and Asham and others. Everybody's frustrated by losing. You think NHL players with an organization like the Flyers like losing? They're probably more angry and upset about it than any fan here could be. They are still one of the elite teams - look at the lineup. Anybody who claims otherwise knows nothing about hockey or the guys who play in the NHL. I predict runner-up in the East this year, and making the Cup finals next with a few minor lineup changes. Write it down. Philly sports fans are a whiney, fickle bunch and generally don't deserve the players that play here. Check the Eagles forums for confirmation of this - Eagles fans don't deserve McNabb either, just like many of the crybaby Flyers fans here don't deserve the great team currently playing down on South Broad. You guys bail and complain the sky is falling at the first sign of trouble. Reminds me of Pittsburgh and DC fans actually. Man up and support your team, or go root elsewhere. You won't be missed, and we'll still take you back when the Pens/Caps bandwagons run off the rails and the Flyers are still contenders as they almost always are while the Pens and Caps suffer in the basement collecting enough #1 draft picks to play with the big boys again. I bet Detroit fans aren't whining this way, and they are in the same boat - perennial contenders having a temporary and uncharacteristic rough patch. Yikes.- I agree with stockman1 100%- stick to sports (you ain't the news)— timpduffy
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- Who cares if he doesn't want to talk to the media? You'll just paint him in a bad light as it is. I don't understand why the media thinks players must talk to them after games.— kozykoz26
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- exactly what i said at the beginning: emery is no goaltender we will never win a cup until we get a premier goaltender. and get rid of cote and carcillo PLEASE— Stanley Cup
- Sam, your act is growing thin too. Stop trying to be an unbiased, objective journalist. You stink.— UncleEddie
- MAYBE THE PHILLY MEDIA SHOULD TAKE A HINT----YOU ARE S-STIRRING TALENTLESS D-BAGS!!!— ChampAnderson
- Chill people. The whole team is in a funk right now. New coach in town and we're going to see a new team come of it, but it won't happen overnight. Give it a few games, but by the end of the month we'll be flying high again and Emery will be back in his game and we'll be talking Cup again. Have some faith in this team or go pick another team. I hear the Pens have a fan base like all you doubters. Go jump on their bandwagon.— Kanayd
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I seem to remember some 2009 NHL draft pundits figuring the Flyers would use their first round pick to draft a franchise goalie of the future, Robin Lehner of Sweden. Well, nope, that pick got traded along with a king's ransom for a 35 year-old defenseman. I guess they can use their 2010 first round pick to finally draft a franchise goalie of the future. Oh wait a minute, that pick was also swapped for said 35 year-old defenseman. And on and on it goes with this franchise. Keith Allen, where are you when you are needed the most?- Carter is a winger, Giroux is the 2nd line center!!!!!— dahlster
