Flyers need to try Backlund in nets
Flyers need to try Backlund in nets
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE: Backlund indeed will get the start Saturday in Pittsburgh.
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It’s time to take a chance and put untested Johan Backlund in the nets Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
I know. I know. Last week, I said Brian Boucher wasn’t the Flyers’ biggest concern, that there were other areas _ such as the team’s inconsistent offense _ that were more pressing.
Well, I was 1 for 2.
The offense is still woefully inconsistent.
But so is Boucher.
Granted, Boucher has been thrust into a difficult situation. He wasn’t used much this season until injuries to Ray Emery and Michael Leighton made him the team’s No. 1 goalie.
Boucher, however, was more than rusty Thursday; he was brutal in a 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota. He seemed out of position on most Minnesota shots, and the game-winner bounced off his glove and skate.
It was a defeat that, to me, was the Flyers’ worst of the season.
Worse than the losses to lowly Edmonton and Toronto.
Worse than any of the four defeats to Atlanta.
The reason, of course, was that Thursday’s game had playoff implications _ and the Flyers blew a 3-1 third-period lead. At home. Against a team going nowhere.
Afterward, there was the same old talk from the locker room. They didn’t play with enough urgency. They were overconfident. They need to play hard for a full 60 minutes. Blah, blah, blah.
Boucher, who surrendered three goals on Minnesota's last seven shots, played well earlier in the season as the backup. But once he has been elevated to starter, his game has dropped considerably. His reactions have been painfully slow.
Maybe he can regain his sharpness. Maybe he can regroup.
But he needs to take a game or two off because, right now, he does not look like a confident goalie.
Give Backlund, 29, his first NHL start Saturday at the Igloo against Sidney Crosby and the defending Stanley Cup champions. There will be no pressure on the 6-foot-2, 198-pounder. After all, this is a game the Flyers are EXPECTED to lose.
Backlund was impressive with the AHL Phantoms this season and, besides, the Flyers need to find out if they should re-sign the prospective free-agent after the season.
The Flyers have lost four straight and six of seven. They lack leadership, chemistry and goal scoring. On top of that, their confidence is being shattered by the soft goals that are being allowed.
Maybe, just maybe, they’ll be motivated to play a better all-around game and protect a rookie (though a veteran and a former star in Sweden) making his first NHL appearance.
Give me your take on it.
getting lucky with a waiver wire pickup, Leighton, is not the solution. if he turns out to be very good, then wonderful, we got lucky while gambling the future of the franchise, my ticket money, and the fan's time. the solution is to rid the Flyers of people who PLAYED hockey, but don't KNOW hockey. without going on and on, just take a look at Osgood, Fleury, and Brodeur. Start there and get back to me when you're done whining and start to see the big picture. the last time the Flyers WERE EVEN IN A POSITION AND TRIED TO DRAFT A #1 goalie was 1999 (Maxime Ouellet).— MichaelZoe- I also agree Sam. If a goalie is playing tentative, and that is exactly what Boucher has been, the team in front of him will play the same. If the team can rally behind Backlund, much like they did when Leighton took the reins, the Flyers OVERALL play will improve. Boucher is playing himself off the team. I see him being waived after the season.— Richie Captain
- Absolutely agree, this team is going nowhere fast with Boucher in net. Not to say that Backlund will be some savior but you already know what you have in Boucher so why not roll the dice. It can't get any worse. Maybe you capture lightning in a bottle, maybe you miss the playoffs entirely, it's worth the risk.— beagle29
- I think what you got to do is give Boucher the start against the Pens but tell both Goalies that Backlund is playing against the Devils since it is a back to back. This way no pressure on Backlund yet Boucher will get the point that he better stand on his head against the Pens because if he has another poor performance he will realize that they will probably ride Backlund the rest of the season. Again it is a must that we go after Price in Montreal, it was said that before the olympic break that the Habs were inquiring about Hartnel since they lack size. PRICE WILL BE A SUPERSTAR WHEREEVER HE ENDS UP.— FlyerfanFromMontreal
- Honestly Sam.. you clearly have never played hockey before and know little about it.. How many soft goals has Brodeur let in this yer when the team didnt show up??and what did the Devils do?? they kept trying.. how many soft goals does Luongo let up?? and once again the team keeps going.. it wont matter who is in net.. until this team learns to play a full game.. not 15-20 minutes a game.. last night they went in the right direction and gave us a 40 minute effort.. now lets try for 60— OrangeNBlackBlood
- I agree totally. The players while they should be held accountable simply have no confidence in Boosh to make a critical save. Why not try someone different that the Pens haven't seen before and who knows? At this point I would rather have the unknown with Backlund and the potential to be surprised then the known with Boosh and knowing what to expect.— blackknight
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Exactly - why the hell not? Boucher has been in the league a long time but he doesn't exactly have the stellar past numbers to warrant keeping him in every game 6 years since he's had any sort of role as a starting goalie. That Pittsburgh/Flyers series where he once shone was 10 frigging years ago! It's almost as if the management of this team doesn't want a decent goalie... frustrating and stupid for the long-suffering passionate fans to watch this year after year. I liked Biron way more than any of the guys this year.
"Blah, blah, blah." pretty much sums up the entire season..no wait, the last 15 seasons for the Flyers. Inconsistent, lackluster and uninterested play by probably 3 full team turnovers, 2 GMs, 7 coaches and 4 team captains.— poger67- i hope the flyers put backlund in....or set up a trash can in front of the net.— bob121484
- Touche Sam. You should send this to the coaching staff and some logical line combos because it doesn't seem like anyone really knows WTF is going on— taintaugustine
