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.
Comments (53)
Sounds like Emery has begun to crack and can't handle the Philly media pressure. This was the risk with him...if he starts to struggle as many thought he still would, the city will start to doubt him (rightfully so) and then he'll get worse b/c of the pressure. Ahh, yet another year the Flyers will be just short b/c they can't solve the goaltending issue.— aisaac- So what exactly is the act that's growing thin? Is it that he has been irritated by the Philadelphia media and is doing what league rules require of him and nothing more...is that the act that's grating? Says who...you media guys? I wouldn't write headline stuff about a player's act growing thin unless it referred to his presence on the team. His relationship with you media guys is meaningless and not sports news.— stockman1
Hartnell-Richards-Giroux; JVR-Carter-Briere; Laperriere-Pyorala-Asham; Nodl-Kalinski-Cote.......... We need a Danny Heatly type to round out that lineup - there are no pure scorers - if Gagne can come back healthy and back to pre-lockout form we might be alright...but that's a big if- Instead of complaining here how sullen he is, Sam, here's a thought... ask him WHY he is that way to you and the Philly media! Or are we afraid he might punch someone out who asks that?, and that's why the question isn't being asked of him?— Realistic One
- Emery's act? Maybe he's been reading all the coverage about how you guys think Stevens got a raw deal and thinks the Flyers' media is ridculous. Maybe he sees you guys as weak.— duffers
- In Sam's defense, the writers don't pick the headlines. There is some other lackey that does it. That said, I like how the media types are starting to lay the foundation against Emery. Everyone knew it was a poor decision to bring him in. Now the media types will have fun scouring the rotting carcass that is the Flyers. Emery is just an easy target at this point. The bottom line is this organization has been rotting from the head for many years now. Flyers and Sixers have been irrelevant for some time, other than the one run the Flyers made 2 years ago. Philly media won't go after Snider, Luuko & Co. like they do Eagles and Phillies. I'm not one to stick up for the 'Birds owners/FO but they get crucified. The Phillies owners/FO were as well until recently.— DennyP
- Flyers won't compete until Bobby Clarke and Mike Holmgren (and Berube for that matter) are GONE. Which could be 20 years. Their old-school tough guy mentality has handcuffed this team for years. That style of play doesn't work in today's NHL. Like it or not, this team is too slow, too penalty prone, and too quick to drop the gloves to make up for their shortcomings. Carcillos dumb penalty (9 minute PP?!?!) the other night is exhibit A.— Tacklebury
- I don't see why just because Emery chooses not to speak with the Philly media (perhaps there's a good reason, perhaps not), that Sam feels the need to put that in his article to try and sway readers to be annoyed with him too. That's between Emery & the media--period. I know that Sam probably did not write the title to this article but it's lousy just the same. Typical media...just trying to stir the pot.— america
- Why the hell is Cote still in this lineup??— camtheman
- DennyP you're right when you're talking about article headlines, the author doesn't write them. This is a god awful blog though and our pal Sam may in fact be the title guy too. I also agree with Realistic One. Ask him WHY!!!— SPM519
- What is it exactly that is "growing thin" about Emery's "act"? Apparently it has nothing to do with his play on the ice, but rather that he is gregarious when talking to Montreal media, but curt with the Philadelphia media. What a joke!— bvillebaron
- Glad the slump is going on now and not the end of the year. They will right the ship in a couple days and then hopefully get hot going into the playoffs. Last year around this time Pittsburgh was in a major slump, changed coach's, and was one of the hottest teams going into the playoffs and they won the cup. It's all about getting hot at the right time. The problem right now is with the special teams and offense. Ride the hot goalie in Bouch and let Emery sit a couple games.— kingback
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classy or-gan-ni-zation that fires it's coach and then notifies its players by text message. 35 and counting, Mr. Snider!!!- It's a bit concerting when a columnist uses word they don't know how to use..... Isn't it a bad thing for a team to get "untracked"? Is he thinking of getting "on track" maybe?— Shaggy
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- Yo Tackleberry,it's Paul Holmgren,walrus faced Mike was Seahawks and Packers coach.But I do agree with the rest of your post.As for the Philly press,I guess if the athletes don't kiss their collective butts they are crucified.Emery knew the press reputation when he came here,and he is not going to get into the pi$$ing match the Philly writers so enjoy.I hope Ray gets it together and does not implode,but I think the team is in trouble with this tandem of goalers.Why oh why can't the Flyers sign a top flight goaltender???? Haven't had one since Hexy/Pelle.— philly fan in cheyenne
- Yo Tackleberry,it's Paul Holmgren,walrus faced Mike was Seahawks and Packers coach.But I do agree with the rest of your post.As for the Philly press,I guess if the athletes don't kiss their collective butts they are crucified.Emery knew the press reputation when he came here,and he is not going to get into the pi$$ing match the Philly writers so enjoy.I hope Ray gets it together and does not implode,but I think the team is in trouble with this tandem of goalers.Why oh why can't the Flyers sign a top flight goaltender???? Haven't had one since Hexy/Pelle.— philly fan in cheyenne
- Tacklebury, is "Mike Holmgren" any relation to Paul Holmgren?— Big Game
- Rather Boring!— DJ
- Until the Flyers realize that the 1970's are over they will not win. Someone tell Ed the cold war is over it is alright to have some Russians with skill instead of the usual muckers and grinders that get you nowhere.— robbyag
- Can't wait to see the Nodl-Kalinski-Cote line in action.— seadog2294
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- Mike Holmgren is the gm of the Flyers? Apparently they're in more trouble than we all knew. Maybe they can start using the west coast offense to score some goals....screen passes, the next big thing in the nhl.— greaser0305
- Did the Flyers recently hire Mike Holmgren too? Wow— BobbyD
- Spurning the Philly media means that YOU supporters of a goalie that would struggle in the AHL right now don't get to find out why he has nose dived. The season is more than 5 games long. Emery hasn't earned a damned bit of slack in this town.— mrluee
- In Ed Snider's defense, he is a passionate owner who cares deeply about the fans and the team's success. If he was not, he would be enjoying a very comfortable retirement. All owners should be like him. I do, agree, however, that he should try to relinquish some of the relics of the past and get with the speed game and yes, have more of an open mind to Russian and Eastern European players. They are a segment that cannot be ignored. But I think the ship will be righted as the new coach has time to get his feet under him. I also agree that a fresh perspective at GM might be in order. Homer is a good guy and has made some good moves, but a fresh and broader perspective would be good right now. I remain a committed fan.— GoCowboys
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- Big Tom, I believe he is counting the money but I do believe he is involved day to day, perhaps to a fault. My point is that his heart is in the right place, but he needs to let go of some of the old relics that just don't fit in the NHL any more. The Upshall for Carcillo trade is a perfect example. That is a trade that would have made sense in the seventies but not in today's NHL. Believe me you can do far worse than Snider and I hope he stays involved. But I do think ne needs to adapt more to the times.— GoCowboys
- Same ol' flyers! LET'S GO PENS!!— dead-eye
- 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
- Carter and JVR for Kovalchuck. We need a sniper and Gange is not it.— dahlster
- Carter and JVR for Kovalchuck. We need a sniper and Gange is not it.— dahlster
I said when they signed him that we should have grabbed Craig Anderson...but the 1970s Flyers MUST live on even though it's 30+ years later and the rest of the league evolves as the game changes for the better. When will Clarke & Co. realize it just ain't gonna work!! FYI, Anderson: 14-7 2.70 GAA and .919 sv pctg...on a Colorado Avalanche team that is rebuilding.- @kingback- but the Flyers do this EVERY YEAR. Start the season hot, slump Dec/Jan, come back with a vengeance and then either 1) finish strong, then collapse in the playoffs or 2) sputter to the end of the season, losing valuable top-seeding and home ice in the process, then roll over and die. Same s**t, different year.— CrazyIvan
- Gee, the first day he's signed hacks like Bob Ford and Phil Sheridan rip him like he's a rapist come to live in our midst. Then the first poor game he plays philly.com has a poll asking if he should be replaced as the starter. I wouldn't talk to you guys, either Sam..especially considering your hockey knowledge couldn't fill a thimble.— JSaq
- Brian Roberts, its time to fire Ed Snider!— downthemiddle
- hahahahaha. the title of this article is deceiving. Not one ACT by emery deems him suspect. So, he chooses to keep quiet. No bone for the media = grassroots controversy. I guess that is the game with you scribes— T3rdEyevisual
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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