With late theatrics, Flyers bail out Bryz
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
With late theatrics, Flyers bail out Bryz
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
WINNIPEG _ Earlier this season in a game against Winnipeg, the Flyers set a dubious franchise record: most goals scored in a loss - eight.
On Tuesday night, they seemed destined to set another unwanted mark - most shots on goal in a road loss.
But in the closing seconds of regulation and the final minute of overtime, they scored on-the-doorstep goals, producing a had-to-see-it-to-believe-it 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets at the ear-splitting MTS Centre.
“We were just resilient tonight,” said winger Wayne Simmonds, who tied the game by tapping in a James van Riemsdyk feed with 9.7 seconds left in regulation.
If the Jets had held on for 10 more seconds, they would have jumped from ninth to third in the Eastern Conference, and the Flyers would have slid to sixth.
Jagr converted a Danny Briere pass with 43.1 seconds remaining in overtime, preventing a dreaded shootout, where the Flyers are 1-5 this season and 20-39 in their career. (Jagr scored in his first game in Winnipeg since 1996, when he also had the game-winner in a 1-0 Penguins victory.)
Given the shaky play of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and the acrobatics of Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec, not many would have liked the Flyers’ chances if it had gone into OT.
But the Flyers’ relentless attack - they equaled a franchise road record with 55 shots - produced a dramatic, memorable ending, one that should give them momentum for the four-game road trip.
Bryzgalov said his teammates bailed him out after he allowed a weak goal early in the third period.
“I think we win because the team deserved to win,” Bryzgalov said. “They play unbelievable and create so many great, great chances to score. I think it’s a fair result.”
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Ragecage what were you watching? On the first goal he was definitely screened, watch the replay, Coburn and a Jets player were in his way. Yes, he gave up a bad goal on the 4th one, but if our pk did their job and our d stopped letting opponents set up right in front of the net, at best that would have been their second goal and it wouldn't have mattered.
And people need to stop bringing up his contract, it's a done issue and there is nothing that can be done about it. Yes, we overpayed, but complaining about it now won't accomplish anything. People need to stop focusing solely on bryz and realize that other players are struggling as well. And your guys savior bob has been struggling too, though I believe he is having the same problem as bryz with our d giving up too many chances.
Last, michaeldhockeyguy, one bad goal in a playoffgame doesn't equal a loss. For an example, look at game 6 of the Buffalo series last year. We let up multiple bad goals and still won.— phillyfan27- Most of the names on here were all part of the lynch mob touting Bob as the next great goalie a few weeks ago and look how well he's played blah blah blah. Where are they now? So now, the rally cry isn't "Kill Bryz, give us Bob", it's just "Kill Bryz" with no solution. ....that will work well. Next from the genius brigade here will be "We want Leighton". ...and they wonder why they never win. 99% of these hockey geniuses never played the game and don't get it yet they think they know better than LAviolette, Holmgren and the Flyers. The same braintrust were whining incessantly about losing Carter and Richards too.....nuff said there. — flyerfan4ever
- No more Leighton, being pulled 3 times in his last 7 starts means he stays in the minors until his contract expires then fades out of the picture permanently. The solution is for Homer to get Nabokov, there's still a few more days until the trade deadline.
- thats what i say but it will cost a first rounder if we can get him at all garth snow is now saying he is their future — davidmiller44
- 2 things. 1) Why would Nabokov come here when he refused to even negotiate with the Flyers when they owned his rights for a brief time before the Isles? He has said he wants to be on the west coast. The only reason he is in an NYI uni is because the NHL told him it's that or Siberia. 2) You really think he's better? Guess what, he gives up PLENTY of soft goals in the playoffs. Just ask San Jose. he was AWFUL in the playoffs there. So what would you have to give up realistically? Couturier? Read? Simmonds? NYI will not trade IN the division very willingly so you are going to have to give up a ton for a guy that's no better than what you have. No thanks. — flyerfan4ever
- seriously, the guys who defend bryz are just plain dopes. he has let up AT LEAST 1 soft goal every game, if not 2 or 3. EVERY GAME (except game 1 of the year). and yes, quite often in the playoffs, 1 goal IS the difference between winning and losing. not every time you schmuck. the D has been inconsistent (mostly due to losing pronger), but bryz has been awful. when is he going to bail us out of a game?! just once i'd like to see him do that. that's what good goalies do. you're a dope.
- @BostonStrangler: at some point you have to admit that perception is the problem in Philly. Not every goalie that they acquire is horrible. Goalies that play well on other teams have struggled with this organization. It is the perception that they are horrible that is the issue. Other goalies, in other cities let bad goals in as well. With the Philadelphia Flyers fans there is a notion that there are never bad goals, just bad goalies. When you look at Bryzgalov's career you see that he isn't a brutal goalie. He isn't the best around, and I agree that he is overpaid, but given a large sample his numbers should even out. He thinks he has more to give, he needs to be given the chance. Laviolette needs to give him the reigns and work his way out. It wouldn't take long to figure out that the issues go far deeper than the goalie. Personally, I think Bryzgalov is putting in as much effort as the forwards...and that is not a good thing. — Hexy4GM
- Good point but I've always liked Bob better. Give him a shot w more games and he'll do great. Nonetheless, I agree w you that Philly fans really do overreact and I say that as a huge Philly fan, including the Sixers (Eagles not so much). — Cali7
- @Hexy: I think you're making some pretty big assumptions of what Flyers fans think. not fair to lump us all together because we think bryz has been bad this year. i think there are plenty of goals this year that weren't his fault. the D has been inconsistent and soft, mostly because they lost pronger. but bryzgalov hasn't had a game in the last 3 months where hasn't let in at least 1 soft goal, and often 2-3. he has looked slow, disinterested & rattled more often than not. i gave him a pass for the 1st few months, but now i'm very concerned. just waiting for him to steal ONE game for us. just ONE. good goalies have to do that once in a while. not sure he's capable of it. just IMHO.
- The first and fourth galls were just appallingly weak.— Pelti
- phillyfan27- I do agree with one thing you said...Carchidi is clueless when it comes to hockey. But to say that the "D" is at fault is absolutely ridiculous. Yes there have been times the "D" in front haven't done there job. But to blame them for that boneheads lazy (slowest goalie in the league going from east to west) play is a joke. I've never seen so many soft goals in such a short time from ANY goalie. Here's a prediction...this guy will NEVER win the cup for us. This will go down as the worse signing in Flyers history. He will last no more than three years and at the end of his three years he will be a backup goalie. phillyfan27...just remember what I said three years down the road.— kaleigh9
- Bryz sucks! What a head case the guy seems to be. No confidence, no backbone, no self esteem or we would not continue to be seeing poor performances night in night out!
Come on Ilya step up!— connorjr - fan27 = mrs. bryzgalov— potus
- @potus: The tying goal was the 49th shot, I was keeping track of the game with an app where the stats are updated live. You were correct that the Flyers had a half dozen shots in OT, the 55th was Jagr's game winner.— drbob1
- I'm really starting to think this guy needs his eyes checked... He keeps whiffing on long shots on his glove side.....— elfman
