Bryzgalov hot, Flyers not
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Bryzgalov hot, Flyers not
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW YORK - Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is playing like an all-star, like the Vezina runnerup who carried the Phoenix Coyotes a few years ago.
Yet, the Flyers have wasted his strong start. They are 2-5 because their offense is, well, offensive.
The Flyers have scored a total of five goals in their five losses.
Five.
Bryzgalov has a 2-4 record despite a 2.19 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
“I guarantee if Bryz keeps playing the same way, we’ll be in really good shape,” forward Danny Briere said after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers, “because at some point, we’re going to start scoring some goals.”
To do that, Peter Laviolette may have to shake up the lines. Even then, this offense will scuffle because Scott Hartnell is injured, and Jaromir Jagr and James van Riemsdyk are no longer here.
Seven games into the season, several Flyers are struggling, including Max Talbot, Brayden Schenn and Jake Voracek, players who have combined for one goal.
In Tuesday’s loss, the top line of Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read managed just three shots _ or seven fewer than Briere, who equaled a career high with 10 shots but was denied by Henrik Lundqvist.
A lineup shakeup may be in the works for Friday in Washington. Maybe Briere will be moved onto a line with Giroux. Or maybe coach Peter Laviolette reunites Briere, Simmonds and Schenn. That trio excelled in last year’s playoffs.
Perhaps its time to experiment with Tye McGinn (a healthy scratch Tuesday), a big-body left winger who may be able to open things up for Giroux, who clearly misses Jagr. A line of McGinn, Giroux and Voracek might be worth a look.
There aren’t a lot of options, other than bringing speedy winger Eric Wellwood back from the Phantoms.
Will GM Paul Holmgren remain patient and wait for Hartnell’s return in four or five weeks? Or will he pull the trigger and try to make a deal for a sniper like Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan?
The next two weeks may provide the answer. Holmgren doesn’t figure to wait too long because he doesn’t have that luxury in a 48-game season.
Building block? Several Flyers said they can build off a Tuesday’s strong third period, a stanza in which they were constantly in the Rangers’ end. The Flyers play in Washington Friday and host Carolina on Saturday.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Paddock is on his way down to the bench............- sam, you really should proofread before posting, you butchered Jagr's name not once but twice in the same column.— outspokenone
- Is Brayden Schenn even playing? Jesus— stermax
- Bryz is playing real well...Lavy, do NOT rest him again...let the guy play and let the situation dictate when you rest him, not your penciled in schedule before the season. Give Bryz some props since most of us were calling for the amnesty clause (which, regardless of how he plays, will be a tough decision...horrible contract by homer).
- He "clearly misses Jarg"? I don't know that player...— roguefiftyone
- Please no more trades. Anaheim is not just going to give us Bobby Ryan. Bobby will cost an arm and a leg.
If we are finishing last sell Timonen and Briere at the trade dead line and rebuild. 2013 draft is very deep.— Nitroglycerin - For the first time in many years I didn't TIVO this game. This season is looking like 2007, and this team is wasting a great start by Bryz. I'm tired of seeing this team go 0-for-x on its power plays and unable to kill a simple penalty. It doesn't matter how good Bryz plays, if you always lose special teams every game, you always lose! I may continue to skip games this season if things don't change.— theigster
- I knew they lost this game when they didn't score on the 5 on 3. Killing that off gives the other team a big boost. Maybe Lavi needs to shake up the lines, or maybe they need a new power play strategy. I would suggest a system that generates a lot of shots on net rather than a system where passing it all over the ice, wasting valuable power play time, would be more beneficial.— ena1977
- Missed the game did Coatsey and Clement blame the officials again?— TEMPLE55
- It's also worth noting that faceoffs were 21 to 40 in favor of the Rangers, which is ridiculous.— metapede
- Bryz playing great but no offense! Last year offense, no goalies! If and when the Flyers put both together. But when?— wlgj
- new to this site, flyer fan since 1970(bobby clarke), just an opinion, b schenn overrated, time up for lavy? like mcginn— roo28
- i think it is time to sit #10 in press box for a couple or send to ahl— roo28
- Matt who? Way too many sophomores that are going to slump in this lineup. Short sited by homer. It's a throw away season, they must be planning for a something big in 2014.— TrollXterminator
- Just correct some of the lazy penalties (hooking, holding, and interference) and the downright stupid penalties (too many men) andthey'll be playing a lot more 5 on 5. Also they have to stop the lazy touch passes that keep getting intercepted and taken in on breakaways. Damn right Bryz is hot. He kept last night game from resembling the Tampa game.— Matt Mac Isaac
