Flyers need to try Backlund in nets
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
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.
This article is spot on.- Agreed. We're better off with Backlund or NO GOALIE than Boucher. Regardless, my only hope is that Snider trades HOMER after this season. Enough already, lets get rid of the real cancer on this team.— springfish
Comment removed.- I've been critical of you before Sam, but this is a great article. There is absolutely nothing to lose by going with Backlund at this point. They signed him because he had Lundqvist-esque Swedish numbers, so give the guy a friggin shot. If they (meaning anyone in charge) really think Boucher is gonna carry this team anywhere, they're more clueless than they already look.— duffers
- The smartest thing you have written all year, BUT, the Flyers have no other option than to go with Backlund. The only way this season gets turned around is if this guy comes in and goes 6-1-1, to finish 6th in the conference and play Buffalo.— Fabulous
- Frank, this is perfect...it's about time you started blasting these guys the way we do in the blogs. Their play this year is unacceptable for the talent level they have. You are absolutely right, blah, blah, blah is all you hear and you have heard it for the last few years...when are some of them going to say enough talk and actually stepup. Give Backlund the shot, we can't do worse.— ferg_1977
- Sorry Sam it is supposed to say "Frankly, this is..."— ferg_1977
- Doesn't matter who is in net. This team is hopeless. No leadership. No accountability. The paychecks just keep on coming. Why put forth effort when you get paid whether you win or lose? This team is heartless. They blame everyone except the one in the mirror. Sad state in Flyer-land.— jibberjabber
- Forget Boucher or Backlund. It's time to bust out the Shooter Tutor.— tim_kerr
- Agreed mine as well see what he can do. Not like Boucher is longterm. You are over estimating the talent on the team also, top stars are second tier as compared to Pens & Caps stars. Don't agree check the league stats & standings.— ed1088
- Backlund should have played tonight and finish the rest of the season! I knew we lost this game when I saw the opening goal tenders on my screen. Least we stole a point.
- the sad thing is it just doesn't matter, realized that a couple weeks ago and have slept much better, the veterans aren't that good and the young guys didn't pan out, poor JVR, all I think of when I see him skate into a defender and lose the puck is patrick kane, the kid might punch cabbies and booze it up in the back of a limo in vancouver but he can flat out play and we don't have anyone on our team like him. painful the way the caps and pens just sat in last place and let the picks fall in their laps, flyers have one poor year and they can't even get the top draft pick right, screwed by f'ing ping pong balls— alswi
Agreed Sam, Brian Boucher to put it mildly is not getting the job done. He is yet another Paul Holmgren misfire. Whatever Don Maloney has done right to make Phoenix a winner this season has not been done with the Flyers.- Comment removed.
- Comcast should step in and throw both Snyder,and Homer out and give it to yhe Little Sisters of te poor!— frank martino
