Backup goalie Backlund has plenty of drive to perform with Flyers

Johan Backlund was not sure what to expect on his journey from Voorhees, N.J., to scenic Glens Falls, N.Y., last Thursday.

As a native of Sweden, Backlund spent his time during Flyers training camp adjusting to life in the United States, where he says "everything is bigger."

"There are lots of new things in a new country," Backlund said.

He was just expecting to find a hotel room after the arduous 300-mile drive to join the Adirondack Phantoms, the Flyers' new top farm club. While he was in the car, Backlund, the Flyers' third goalie for most of camp, found out from Phantoms coach Greg Gilbert that he would be starting the next night for Adirondack.

But when he arrived in upstate New York, there was no room.

"I think that we went to the wrong hotel," Backlund said. "There was no room for me and I had to call Bryan [Hardenbergh, Flyers' director of team services] and go to another place."

By the time Backlund found a place, it was late and he was exhausted.

Less than 24 hours later, Backlund helped the Phantoms earn a 2-1 shootout victory over the Albany River Rats as the game's No. 1 star.

Yesterday - 3 days after arriving in Adirondack - Backlund was shuttling back to Philadelphia in the car, this time with Phantoms assistant coach Kjell Samuelsson driving, to replace the injured Brian Boucher as the Flyers' backup goalie.

Boucher left Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Devils in New Jersey after just 11 minutes, 54 seconds with what the team is calling a "lower body injury." General manager Paul Holmgren said Boucher would be out for a week to 10 days, meaning he will miss the team's season-opening trip to Carolina and New Jersey this weekend.

"We believe it's just minor, a little tweak," Holmgren said. "We'll monitor it closely."

Boucher said he was hurt on a movement in net, not by a puck or another player crashing into him. That could mean a tight groin or hamstring.

For Boucher, it was an ugly ending to a rough training camp. Just before the injury, he was toasted on a top-shelf blast by former Flyer Dainius Zubrus. In all, Boucher allowed seven goals in 93 minutes during camp, giving him a putrid save percentage of 79.

"It's disappointing," said Boucher, who was replaced by Ray Emery. "When you're a new guy on a team, it's not what you're looking to do, to have to leave the game and subject your partner to that. He has to come in when he is cold and was supposed to have the night off."

Boucher's loss is Backlund's gain. A 5-year veteran of the Swedish Elite League, Backlund signed a two-way deal with the Flyers in March, jumping at his first opportunity to come to North America.

"It has been a dream of mine," Backlund said. "It wasn't much for me to think of [when the Flyers offered him a contract].

"It is a faster game here. With a smaller rink, you have to be a little more prepared as a goalie. The players shoot closer to the net."

While Boucher's injury means that Emery likely will get all of the work in the first few regular-season games, the Flyers have faith that Backlund can do the job. He stopped 14 of 16 shots in 29 minutes against Toronto in his only preseason action with the parent club.

"I was happy with his camp," Holmgren said. "We just needed to get Brian and Ray more time to prepare."

Emery and Backlund will likely split Tuesday's final preseason tuneup against Minnesota at the Wachovia Center, Holmgren said.

The Flyers made no roster moves yesterday but did have a personnel meeting to discuss moves, Paul Holmgren noted.

When asked if James van Riemsdyk and Mika Pyorala would be on the roster if it needed to be submitted today, Holmgren said both would make the cut. The league requires rosters to be whittled down to 23 players by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"I don't want to say he has been better than I expected," Holmgren said of van Riemsdyk. "But he has certainly earned the right to start here."

Holmgren will meet with Blair Betts' agent today to see if the sides can come to an agreement for the upcoming season. Betts, in training camp on a tryout, has been impressive on the penalty kill and in winning faceoffs.

Holmgren did not have an update on Randy Jones. The Flyers will not know until noon today whether Jones was claimed on waivers or he will be sent to Adirondack . . . The Flyers will practice early today (9:30 a.m.) at the Skate Zone in Voorhees to accommodate the rescheduling of Scott Hartnell's charity golf outing.

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at

http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers.