Bob deserves a break
Rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will make his 12th straight start Thursday when the Flyers play host to shorthanded Tampa Bay. It will be his 16th start in 20 games, putting him on pace to play 66 of the 82 regular-season games.
Bob deserves a break
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will make his 12th straight start Thursday when the Flyers play host to shorthanded Tampa Bay. It will be his 16th start in 20 games, putting him on pace to play 66 of the 82 regular-season games.
After Thursday, the Flyers' next two games are against elite Eastern Conference teams, Washington and Montreal. Based on coach Peter Laviolette's past, Bobrovsky figures to start those games, too.
Bobrovsky is 22 and in great physical shape. He should not have a problem starting 60-some games this season. But allowing him to start 14 straight _ assuming he also starts against Washington and Montreal _ is a bit much. He has never played more than 35 games in any of his pro seasons in Russia.
It says here it's good to rest a goalie for the mental fatigue as much as for the physical factors _ and the fear of wearing him down.
Give the kid a day off. Let him relax and unwind. Then start him the next six or seven in a row.
By bypassing the highly capable Brian Boucher on Thursday, one wonders if Boosh has played his last game for the Flyers. Michael Leighton is getting close to returning, and he might be next in line when "Bob" finally does get a rest.
In case you were curious, Bernie Parent played in 73 games in 1973-74, a season that ended when he was 29, He then played in 68 games in 1974-75.
The Flyers won the Stanley Cup those seasons, so it didn't seem to affect Parent.
But the game is much quicker today than it was in Parent's era. Is it more of a grind to be a goalie in 2010 than it was in the mid 1970s?
Probably. Which is another reason I'd rest the kid.
Then again, unlike Laviolette, I never coached a team to a Stanley Cup.
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Tampa, which is already shorthanded because of injuries to Simon Gagne and Vinny Lacavalier, will be without forward Mattias Ritola on Thursday. He was suspended by the NHL for two games for hitting an Islander from behind.
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If Bob needs a break, he would probably tell Laviolette. Just because a reporter in Russia tweeted that Bobrovsky said he was tired doesn't mean anything. I doubt Bobrovsky told Laviolette he was tired and Lavi said tough get out there.— Flyers422- hes 22 years old! play him as much as possible.— stanley
- Carchidi writing about a goalie controversy? Get out. Never thought I'd see the day.— UncleEddie
- I'm not sure a comparison to Parent is warranted. The game has changed so much from the 70s. Like Carchidi said, the game is faster. But, at the same time, goaltending equipment was smaller, heavier, and less protective than it is today. A 100 mph slap shot felt like a 100 mph slat shot. Now? Not so much. Also, with better travel today than 35 years ago I'd argue that it was more of a grind to be a goalie back then. And nevermind the wrist shots flying by Parent's head when he was wearing that flimsy mask!— hoser24
- Peter Laviolette is a great coach. He knows what he's doing. By playing Bob the Goalie with this frequency he is measuring the kid's mental and physical toughness.
Carey Price is a prime example of not letting a young, prime-time goalie play enough during the regular season. He played well-enough but wasn't nearly conditioned enough to endure the rigors of trying to win the hardest trophy in all of sport to win. To win a Stanley Cup, the team that is the most mentally and physically tough is the one that wins.
By playing Bob the Goalie a lot, you are molding him into a tougher player quickly.— carnagexxxx - Comment removed.
- BOB should get a break against TB its just stupid to be over playing him .— kdubs215
- was a much better write up of this subject on broad street hockey a few days ago? at least give some credit.
- Who says he needs a break? He's playing great and getting better. He wants to be out there. If he needs a break he will let the coach know. There's not a hockey player out there who dosn't want to play every game! Yea and he's only 22 yrs young. Maybe if he was 39 I would understand a break.— thomdee
- He's 22, let him play. Leighton will be back soon and will spell Bob a couple games here and there. This might be showing more about Laviloette's lack of faith in Boucher than his faither in Bob.
Either way, "WHAT ABOUT BOB" shirts available now!— WWW.WEEMSWEAR.COM - I say burn him out until he drops. Then whine about the lack of good goalies.— Larry 1972
- hey sam i forget ,how many stanley cup winning teams have you coached? yea i thought so— bananas
- he'll get lots of breaks if he starts losing-ride him hard— petemagoop
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