Game 6 goalie? Boosh-rovsky-ton?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Game 6 goalie? Boosh-rovsky-ton?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE: At Saturday's practice, Chris Pronger again skated and took slap shots, but the Flyers would not say if he would play Sunday. Jeff Carter and Andreas Nodl did not practice and are expected to miss Sunday's game.
Coach Peter Laviolette would not announce Sunday's goalie.
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So who starts Game 6 for the Flyers on Easter Sunday?
Veteran Brian Boucher, the usually steady goalie who yielded two of the worst goals of the season in Game 5?
Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky, who surrendered three goals on seven shots in Game 2 and hasn’t even dressed in the last three contests?
Journeyman Michael Leighton, who allowed a juicy rebound that produced the game-winning OT goal in Buffalo’s 4-3 win on Friday night?
Boosh, Bob or Leights? Or perhaps a period for each (Boosh-rovsky-ton)? And maybe call Johan Backlund if the game goes into OT?
After Friday’s deflating defeat, coach Peter Laviolette would not commit to his goalie on Sunday.
“I’m going to sleep on that one and probably give you nothing,” he said.
He figures to use Boucher. Bob’s confidence is probably shot for this series, and Leighton didn’t instill much trust with his shaky OT.
Boucher stood up and took the blame.
Leighton deflected it.
“You know, it’s a tough situation,” he said of Tyler Ennis’ winning goal. “The defenseman has to go out and block the puck, and it kind of puts a little bit of a screen on me, and I just caught it (the sight of the puck) through. You know, it’s just a play that has to happen; the defense has to do that and it was just kind of a lucky bounce right on the guy’s tape.”
Boucher allowed two goals in the first 3:51, both from impossible angles _ a long shot from the goal line on the left, and a shot from behind the goal line on the right.
“The first one, I was anticipating a pass and he shot it on net,” Boucher said. “The second one, aside from maybe coming out and playing the puck before that, I don’t know if I would’ve played that any differently. I mean, the guy banked it off me. But the first one was me anticipating a pass and he threw it on net.”
Boucher said he took “full responsibility” for the loss. “I put my team behind the 8-ball. It was on me. Those are goals that can’t go in.”
Give Boucher a crack at redemption. For all he’s done for this organization over the years, he deserves it.
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It doesn't really matter at this point.
Even if they win the series, they lose the next one. You can't win in the playoffs if you can't score on the PP. Too many teams are talented at this point of the year and as good as the Flyers are 5v5 they aren't going to out-skill anyone in the playoffs.— comusosan- Having to choose between Bob, Boosh or Leaky it's like having to choose between a headache, a stomachache or a toothache.— Folmi
- Supermorris, Leighton played one game this season, so what stats are you talking about? He revitalized the Phantoms you dumb sob. He was so good all 29 teams passed on him at half price. The last to playoff games he played he screwed up in overtime. He was pulled 2 times in the finals last year and that was before he lost game 6. He will be gone after this season. You jump on Boucher after his only bad playoff game and he will get the opportunity to redeem himself. Philly thug the real fans wanted him all year? You have to be kidding, if he had any talent he wouldn't have been past over by 29 teams. That all being said if he does happen to play I'll root for him. I guess you didn't watch the goalie in games 3, 4, & 5. Bouch played a terrible 3 minutes in game 6 but the Flyers came back and bailed him out and the defense and forechecking completely shut down the Sabres with one scoring chance into overtime. The first real shot in overtime Leighton butchers into a rebound your mother could put in. Then he throws his team under the bus saying the shot should have been blocked. If he plays the Flyers will lose, book it— Howard32
- You misunderstood his quote. And here is what he said when asked if he wants to play Game 6:
"Definitely I want to play. But Boosh has done a great job to get us in this situation and tonight was one of those nights where two of those goals – you could probably take 100 shots from there and you might score one, so it’s a tough bounce. We have confidence in Boosh. He’s going to bounce back and play a good one in Buffalo."
But of course Sam wouldn't print that part. It doesn't help his class guy for the organization argument for Boosh. - Bob is the only goalie on this team capable of stealing a game.
And this team has treated him like Clarke and the Cold War are still in fashion. Bad enough that this team hasn't prioritized the most important position in more than two decades, but now it treats its best (albeit raw) goalie like he's got the plague. I've never seen a coach in any sport do a great job one year and such a poor one the next. And that includes the fact that this team has no discipline, constantly makes bonehead plays and has kept a C on the chest of one of the worst possible candidates.— VicM - Yes, because his two shutouts in over 120 career NHL/KHL games (with zero in the NHL) is very inspiring. Leighton had shutouts in 25% of his NHL playoff games last year, 26% of his career AHL playoff games, he holds the record for most shutouts in the history of the AHL, he has shutouts in 17% of his AHL regular season games this year, and he played 50 minutes of shutout hockey in Game 5. I know, most of this is from the AHL, but the comparison is fair since we are going to consider KHL stats for Bob (otherwise he has ZERO shutouts).
How many times has Bob played 50 minutes of scoreless hockey IN THE NHL in his 56 appearances? I believe the answer is once, maybe twice. Leighton did it in 2 appearances. - why is it that gene hart said it many years ago,and the management that should thank him for making hockey popular in this town doesn't remember what he said?
YOU CANNOT WIN A STANLEY CUP WITH ROTATING GOALIES.
if we go out in the first round, i blame holmgren(one of my favorite all time players)for not identifying this hole in the team and doing something about it.
all in all i feel abused as a fan.— jim3888 - I could've screamed watching Boucher give up those goals. That doesn't happen to the best goalies, they are too focused. Leighton gives up juicy rebounds which scare the heck out of me. Bob, well what do we know? Hot & cold. It is truly a shame that again the Flyers fans will will probably have their hopes dashed by weak goals. Also, the last time that I checked, the coach is responsible for the power play's success. Well even when they were last in the league a couple of years ago, their Power Play wasn't this bad. It is so bad, that I just fast forward my dvr until it is over - I don't miss anything.— jerzyte
- Gotta give Boosh a second chance...he won't let it happen in a second game. Lights sucks...he is so slow and you could see it was just a matter of time before Buf scored in OT. Lavi is overrated. I'm sorry...there is a reason the 'Canes let him go...you don't just let a "great" coach go after winning the franchise's lone Cup. He doesn't have the competence of in-game adjustments and doesn't seem to be a savvy X's and O's guy. The power play is absolutely atrocious. That's unacceptable with this type of talent. They can barely get it past the blue line. Another example is during the reg season our OT and shoot outs were just as embarrassing. No push to get the guys thinking creatively. Nothing has changed, and our results speak for themselves. I'm not saying to fire the guy, but he needs some assistant coaches that complement his lack of ingenuity on the power play. It's that simple. We need inside scoring and a goaltender in the offseason, and get some fresh 4th line grit and energy in the Asham role. Need a top line goalie and let Bob back up and learn for a year or two. Hmmm...sounds like the Canadiens strategy over the years...see Roy (backed up Brian Hayward for most of his rookie year) and Price.— dave1walsh
- What a joke! I am not a big fan of any of the three goalies. But to blame leighton for a toe save rebound in OT is crazy. Leighton did come in after two of the worst goals I ever seen in the playoffs and gave them a chance to get back in it and win. Lets not forget Leighton was the goalie who gave us three shutouts in one series and help bring us back down 3-0. For some reason this team plays well in front of leighton. Leighton needs to play. With that said they better go get a goalie next year and bye bye Boosh. Let BOB do what every other goalie does learn in the AHL. This team is built to win now not wait for a rookie to learn. I am tired of these Journeyman goalies they are journyman for a reason.— PhillyFran75
- you all know whos in charge of the flyers power play right? none other than craig berube!!!! he of 61 total nhl goals in a 17 year career!!!! no wonder its a well oiled goal scoring machine!!!they would be better off sobering up reggie leach and letting him run it...or let him do it drunk he would be better than berube lol i'll tell them how to run it right now...no more behind the back passes...3 passes and then a shot no matter what and 2 guys in front of the net for rebounds...if they cant make that work they shouldnt be in the nhl. talk all you want about the goalies but except for those 2 goals by boosh in game 5 the power play has cost us games not the goalies.— mc62strat
- Let's go with your choice Sam, boosh-rovsky-ton. hear he plays a mean game, no goals over the shoulder , off the back of his legs or through the 5 hole but still needs to brush up on his English LOL— debbyt
