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Inside the Flyers: Which goalie will start in playoffs for the Flyers?

The finish line is within sight, which means Flyers coach Peter Laviolette will soon make his most important decision of the season: choosing which goalie will get a majority of the action in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Flyers rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is among NHL leaders in winning percentage (.632). (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)
Flyers rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is among NHL leaders in winning percentage (.632). (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)Read more

The finish line is within sight, which means Flyers coach Peter Laviolette will soon make his most important decision of the season: choosing which goalie will get a majority of the action in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Laviolette won't tip his hand, but, based on the way he has used his goalies lately, he seems to be leaning toward Sergei Bobrovsky, the 22-year-old rookie who is among NHL leaders in winning percentage (.632).

Entering Saturday, "Bob" had started five of the last seven games.

Bobrovsky and veteran Brian Boucher have been solid. Boucher has been a bit steadier, and you could argue that his experience - and his stickhandling edge over Bobrovsky - would be more beneficial in the postseason. Oh, and he has this on his resumé: He outplayed the great Martin Brodeur as the Flyers jolted the New Jersey Devils in last year's opening round of the playoffs.

Then again, Bobrovsky is the franchise's goalie of the future. If Laviolette gives Boucher most of the playoff starts, what will it do to Bobrovsky's confidence? Does that even matter?

Another question: Can a rookie withstand the added pressure of the playoffs and lead a team to the Cup?

Quite simply, yes.

In the last five seasons, two rookie goalies have helped steer their teams to championships: Antti Niemi did it for Chicago last year against the Flyers - he outplayed Michael Leighton - and Carolina's Cam Ward did it against Edmonton in 2006. (Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy are the only other rookie goalies to win Cups.)

Since Laviolette coached that Ward-led Carolina team, it might have an effect on his goalie decision this spring. Will it influence him to roll the dice with Bobrovsky, the unflappable Russian? Or will he opt for the "safe" choice and give the nod to Boucher?

Entering Saturday, Bobrovsky had played in 40 of 63 games, compiling a 24-10-4 record, a 2.48 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage.

Boucher's numbers have also been impressive: a 15-7-2 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage in 26 games.

Boucher's best playoff run was his rookie season in 1999-2000. He was 23, and he had an 11-7 postseason record, a 2.03 GAA, and .917 save percentage as the Flyers reached the Stanley Cup semifinals, where they lost to New Jersey. Laviolette can look at it as part of Boucher's vast experience and call on the 34-year-old New England native when the playoffs roll around. Or he might deduce that rookies can withstand the playoff glare. Boosh did it. So did Ward. Why not Bob?

Like Laviolette, goalie coach Jeff Reese won't tip his hand on his playoff goalie. The goalie who gets the most starts in the final 18 regular-season games, though, figures to be The Guy.

"We're just going to go game to game, and play it by ear," said Reese, referring to the stretch run. "And we'll go from there."

It should be pointed out that the Flyers' defense - the league's best six blue-liners - usually makes life a lot easier for Boucher and Bobrovsky. With a big, dependable defense in front of them, the goalies generally aren't forced to make as many dazzling saves as their counterparts.

"As a staff, we have a lot of confidence in both of them," Reese said.

The fact that Bobrovsky is a rookie who has not been tested in the high-intensity playoffs, Reese said, will not be held against him.

"Some rookies have had good success, and Bob has a lot of talent and a lot of skill," Reese said. "I don't see why there's any reason he can't win a Stanley Cup. But like I said, we'll just go day to day now, and when it's time to make a decision, we will."

Reese acknowledged that the playoffs would "all be new" to Bobrovsky. "It'll be interesting to see how he handles it. I'm looking forward to it. He's a very intelligent guy with a lot of confidence in his ability, so I'm looking forward to seeing him."

Will it be as an occasional playoff starter or as the guy who shoulders the load?

The guess here is that Bobrovsky will get the call, with Laviolette having a short leash if he falters. It's a luxury most teams don't have: a dependable 34-year-old veteran waiting in the wings.

That's one of the advantages of having two goalies who have played a lot this season and are sharp and ready. No matter which one plays, the Flyers will be in capable hands.

From here, the Flyers' goalie situation is good enough to win a Cup. The bigger concern is whether the team's offense - which lately has been as sleepy as the Phillies' in last year's NLCS - wakes up.