Foes starting to figure out 'Bob'
The Flyers blew a three-goal, third-period lead and dropped a 5-4 shoot-out to visiting San Jose on Wednesday night, but the most alarming development may have been this: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the rookie sensation, is starting to show some flaws in his game. Teams have had some success when they shoot high on “Bob,” and the Sharks exposed that weakness several times. It looks like opponents are getting the word: If you are going to beat Bobrovsky, shoot upstairs. Bobrovsky, 22, was very passive in the shoot-out. He needs to come out of the net more and challenge the shooters. San Jose was 2 for 2 in the shoot-out and scored with ease. Something to keep an eye on: Bobrovsky, who is among the league leaders in several categories, has lost his last four starts against teams with a winning record. Meanwhile, impressive 21-year-old San Jose center Logan Couture notched his 13th goal _ tops among NHL rookies _ and the game-winner in the shoot-out. Couture is a leg up on “Bob” in the rookie-of-the-year race. Brian Boucher will get the start Thursday night in Toronto. “Bob” has started four straight and six of the last seven _ and looks like he could use a break. Bobrovsky is athletic and a very good student of the game. He and goalie coach Jeff Reese will make a few adjustments that can be carried into future games.
Foes starting to figure out 'Bob'
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers blew a three-goal, third-period lead and dropped a 5-4 shoot-out to visiting San Jose on Wednesday night, but the most alarming development may have been this: Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the rookie sensation, is starting to show some flaws in his game.
Teams have had some success when they shoot high on “Bob,” and the Sharks exposed that weakness several times.
It looks like opponents are getting the word: If you are going to beat Bobrovsky, shoot upstairs.
Bobrovsky, 22, was very passive in the shoot-out. He needs to come out of the net more and challenge the shooters. San Jose was 2 for 2 in the shoot-out and scored with ease.
Something to keep an eye on: Bobrovsky, who is among the league leaders in several categories, has lost his last four starts against teams with a winning record.
Meanwhile, impressive 21-year-old San Jose center Logan Couture notched his 13th goal _ tops among NHL rookies _ and the game-winner in the shoot-out. Couture is a leg up on “Bob” in the rookie-of-the-year race.
Brian Boucher will get the start Thursday night in Toronto. “Bob” has started four straight and six of the last seven _ and looks like he could use a break.
Bobrovsky is athletic and a very good student of the game. He and goalie coach Jeff Reese will make a few adjustments that can be carried into future games.
* * * *
Winger Dan Carcillo will remain a healthy scratch Thursday in Toronto.
* * * * *
Breakaways. Chris Pronger blocked eight shots Wednesday….San Jose won 63 percent of the face-offs and scored two goals off draws…..The Flyers lead the NHL with 99 goals; Toronto has the third-lowest goal total (61).
Snipes: which goal was Bob's fault? Clowes? Demers? Certainly not Couture's or Pavelski's? Last I looked, none of those goals trickled between his legs. A deflection and some top shelf skill hardly constitute any error from Bob.
Does Sam do any journalistic research? The story should be about why the Flyers get roasted in the face-off circle by the better teams they play almost every game. When's the last time a writer asked the tough questions i.e. why the Flyers take stupid, lazy penalties? I feel like I've been watching a repeat and it's been atleast 3 seasons of dumb penalties and getting scorched at the face-off dot. I struggle to find fault with all of last nights goals from a goaltending perspective. Once again, it seems like a blown coverage and some dumb penalties ruined a well played game.— f_ckthepens- A bunch of the goals were off of faceoffs so that's not Bob's fault.— HandNik
- Bobrovsky wasn't great last night, and he hasn't been as good as he had been for the last few games, but this is a bad article even for a hack like Carchidi. Shoot high on a butterfly goalie? Wow. Did Panaccio tell you that? Bobrovsky has areas he needs to address, but last night was a team loss. They were awful on the PK and at the dot.— JSaq
- It was never hard to figure out Bob...even a person not associated with hockey could see he was very beatable upstairs. After 4 weeks of tape, everyone in the NHL now knows that too and are capitalizing on it. So now what do he and coach Reese do about it? And....how many more draws and games do we have to lose? In addition to being a terrible one on one shootout team we are terrible on draws and it burned us big time last night...there is no excuse for a millionare pro athlete to stink so bad at one facet of the game as those we have attempting faceoffs. Absolutely amateur. Fire that coach whoever he is and bring in a legit teacher with a track record of winning faceoffs during their own playing career. Find him now!— Mark1npt
Comment removed.- Remember folks, Sam had an eye issue. He's only seeing half the picture. I think Bob is still the best option aside from stuffing a sumo wrestler in goal, with Garth Snow's old shoulder pads of course.— bgleas103
- f_ckthepens: You just made my point. Basically what you are saying is any time a player makes a good shot to an open area of the net, or there is a deflection, it is not the goalie's fault if it goes in. Hmmmm.....As i stated "You need your goalie to make big saves on tough shots and he did not do that." The shots were of varying degrees of difficulty, but Bob did not come up with the saves when needed. I have not said the loss is on him, but not placing ANY of the blame on your goalie who saved 87% and was 0 for 2 in the shootout seems a bit too lenient for me. For the first time, i understand why people sometimes say Flyer fans drink the kool-aid. Bob is the flavor of choice right now.
- SAM- I'm sorry but you know nothing. Nothing else to say. You just wasted 2 minutes of my life— fman727
- Comment removed.
San Jose won 63 percent of the face-offs - hello anybody listening - this has been a problem for a long, long time - I have suggested bringing Brind'Amour in (retired) he was an awesome face off specialist - Carters avoidance of contact led him to cross check - if he would have body checked that guy - no penalty - he didn't have to slam him into the boards just body up on him - they are all over JVR to use his size - what about Carter - they paid for that double standard last night - bob crouches down and coils up too tight - he doesn't make himself bigger - we'll be ready for Leighton soon hope his injury is recoverable.....
- Please stop using the term, "Butterfly goalie." 99% of the goalies out there are using this method now. It isn't a style, it is just the way goalies play now.— John-Michael
- Let's see, 8+ mins of PP, but it is BOB's fault. That game NEVER should have gotten to that point - Danny Boy better loose the whine and dumb penalties...yeah Bob is "accountable" for goals that he lets in - but really w/ that kind of meltdown and stupid play - this loss goes to the whole team..the saves he was making were great, as the score could have been an added 2 for the Sharks...will be good to see Boosh tonight - if Lavy keeps going w/ the kid, he is going to be buried before the New Year starts!!!— poshnspice
- High glove side----Bob's Achilles heal--oh my. Time to find another goalie!— Romus
- Okay, everyone take a deep breath and step off the ledge. Bob will be fine. The reason that he is getting scored on high is because he isn't coming out far enough to cut down the angle. ALL butterfly goalies can be beat high. That is why they come out and challenge the shooter - it's hard to roof one when the goalie is right in front of you. He will work with the goalie coach on this and get it worked out. The kid has a great work ethic.— DrM
- Blame the defence for this lost. They were running around like chickens with their heads cut off.Bob was left alone in the third.— wlgj
