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Bryz fires back at media after loss

Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was the only reason the Flyers were tied at 1-1 late in the final period Thursday night.

The Flyers were totally outplayed, but Bryzgalov kept them in the game with numerous point-blank saves.

No matter.

They ended up losing on a power-play goal and an empty-netter, dropping a 3-1 decision to Ottawa at the Wells Fargo Center.

Somehow, the Senators found a gap and got a breakaway while on the power play as the Flyers were caught out of position while shorthanded late in the game. Colin Greening deposited the goal with 5:36 left to make it 2-1 and virtually end the Flyers' slim playoff hopes.

Overall, Bryzgalov was brilliant, stopping 31 shots, including many from in close.

The Flyers' offense, however, had little attack time and they managed one goal for their third straight game. Their power play went 0 for 2 — both early in the third period — and they are now 0 for 13 on the PP in their last five games.

Afterward, in his first comments since the story broke, Bryzgalov criticized those who reported he had slept during a recent team meeting. The Fanatic — the team's flagship radio station — and the Daily News reported the story, citing unnamed sources.

Speaking in a calm but hurt tone, Bryzgalov vehemently denied the reports, calling them "embarrassing" and adding "you've got to prove your sources. That was never happening. You became not professional journalists. You've got to do your job better….Find reliable sources."

Breakaways. The Flyers have lost three straight and are seven points out of eighth place with eight games left. In other words, they are virtually done......Danny Briere is expected to return to the lineup Saturday in Buffalo.....Claude Giroux's shorthanded tally was the Flyers' lone goal.. It was the Flyers' second SH goal of the year.