Despite pounding, Flyers' Bryz needs to play Sat.; Reese says swagger is back
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Despite pounding, Flyers' Bryz needs to play Sat.; Reese says swagger is back
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE:
The Flyers did not practice Friday, but had a team meeting. Goalie coach Jeff Reese had a long one-on-one with Bryzgalov.
“He felt great today. He came in with his swagger and it’s important that his teammates saw him come in like that," Reese said. "He was joking around and laughing and I think that was very important. He’s going to turn this around, no question.”
In a roundabout way, Reese said Bryzgalov will be back in the nets on Saturday.
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FROM EARLIER:
For the first time in the franchise’s history, the Flyers scored eight goals in a LOSING effort.
It happened Thursday in a wild, pond-like game in which they lost to the Winnipeg Jets, 9-8, before a stunned crowd at the Wels Fargo Center.
The franchise’s previous high for goals scored in a loss was seven _ 9-7 at Hartford in 1984, and 8-7 vs. visiting Tampa Bay last year.
Incredibly, the Flyers fired 84 shots (48 on net, 19 blocked, 17 missed) and still lost. Winnipeg fired 43 shots (25 on net, 11 blocked, seven missed).
Afterward, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov blamed himself for the loss. Bryzgalov was awful in a relief role (four goals on 10 shots), but his timid defense was even worse, repeatedly failing to clear the front of the net.
“You win as a team, you lose as a team,” said winger James van Riemsdyk, who scored two goals and took 14 shots, including nine on goal. “You can’t ever put it on just one guy. We have to be better in front of him. There were a lot of tips and point-blank chances that we have to cut down and make his job a little easier.”
That’s similar to what the players were saying after Wednesday’s 5-1 loss in Montreal.
In his last four appearances, Bryzgalov has a 5.05 GAA and .802 save percentage.
“I’m lost in the woods,” Bryzgalov said, calling it the worst stretch in his career and apologizing to the fans and his teammates. “I have zero confidence in myself now. I am terrible.”
From here, Bryzgalov needs to get right back on the horse. Put him back in there Saturday against visiting Carolina and allow him to work on a new chapter.
Maybe the fact he cleared the air will allow Bryzgalov to relax, regain his focus and start to resemble the elite goalie who played in Phoenix.
Maybe.
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
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Something needs to be done about the D-men in front. They are out of position and don't seem to know where they are supposed to be. Coburn and Lilja are constantly turning the puck over with bad passes. They looked like the Keystone Cops on ice.— Herdman- Goaltending is 70% mental. Right now, he's not in the right frame of mind. I played the position long ago and I tell the way he's moving he's not confident at all. It's clear in all his movements. Sometimes the mental part of the game is harder to overcome then the physical. He knows what he needs to do, but his mind won't let him. I say play him unti the wheels fall off. Remember, he also had a terrible camp and admitted he wasn't on his game. When was the last time you ever heard any player say this for the past month of so. It's not a good sign, but he must play. Could having Bob breathing down his neck be hurting him? Who knows.— FLYGUY31
- I'm baffled by what happens to the D when Pronger is out. First: 29 other teams don't have Pronger. Second: Timmonen, Carle, Coburn, Mezaros is good on paper and still better than half the NHL's top 4 D. Third, The Penguins have been winning for a year without Crosby.— bobbyd24
- I say we let Hexstall suit it up in the alumni game at the Winter Classic. If he looks good give him a contract for the playoffs. It's going to be keystone cops with these two losers in net all year.— eaglelover1979
- Has Lundqvist ever been in the playoffs? If so, has he ever been in the playoffs?!— girouxforpresident
- At least Bryz knows he's not playing well and doesn't have such a huge ego to admit it. He'll get himself straight. As for the D, well...they need to pull their heads out of their a*s' and get going. They look nothing short of terrible. There are to many vets on on defense to be having these issues.— puckurself
Comment removed.- Agreed..brings new meaning to the world "Mr. Softee". Love him, but he wasn't that good! — FLYGUY31
- It would be nice to have heard the Phillies players and Manual to come out and admit their hitting stinks and their pitchers probably have zero confidence in the hitters. At least someone is owning up. Rolllins blames the fans in game 3 for being too quiet and the rest of them explain their terrible hitting as "we are trying too hard, thats baseball and give their pitcher alot of credit.— RobertB
- I thought we were supposed to be better and quicker on defense?!— warreninrochester
- icarus, I agree. I would love to have Lundquist on the Flyers. Bryz actually is paid more than him. Unbelievable.— P Even
- Bryz is elite level goalie. I have seen him perform that way in LA and Phoenix. He is the answer but he is not perfect and the switch from west to east and the new d. I agree. It is time to ride him out of this. Defense was wastwed by having to play Walker to move him. That is over. Pay him to end of contract but play him in ECHL and not take an Adirondac space. Lilja doesn't help but the defense needs help. I see need for trade. I didn't want to but move those draft picks for big defenseman with some positional skills. Pronger substitute.— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
- Both golies need to come out of the net. They are both too far back on every goal.— leroy white
- How many "elite" goalies do you know of that have been waived and NOT picked up?— General Turgidson
