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.
They can put a shovel in goal and have more success. At least a shovel wouldn't kick the winning goal into his own net.— rmpchf
Backlund isn't ready Sam. Letting him get lit up by the Pens is not going to help anyone. Least of all Boucher's confidence. Which has probably taken a lot of hits being passed over for Leighton despite Boosh's strong play on a weaker team (at the time) There is a reason Lavy ain't discussing it. It's a seriously bad idea. We benefit far more from letting Boucher play than playing the GM fairy and trying to put someone new in.— flyler- flyler: what is ruining Boosh's confidence is all the soft goals he is letting in. You think a beating at the hands of the Pens is going to help him? P-uuh-lease. The conventional wisdom was that Leighton wasn't ready either, he was then waived, then came here and played great right away. Give the kid a shot.
Phillies baseball can't get here soon enough...— Ump Al
Boucher sucks and is no longer an NHL calibre goaltender. He is what he was, a third string bench warmer whose role these days is more suited to letting guys shoot at him in practice. Put the Swede in and let's see just how good or bad it turns out. It can't get any worse than having old Boosh in there.- I just wish someone would do a story about the disallowed goals by the Flyers. I live in Canada and watch hundreds of hockey games per year, but I am astonished at how many goals are taken away from the Philadelphia Flyers. I would honestly be shocked if any other NHL team had half as many goals taken back. This gets tiring.— Hexy4GM
