Posted: Friday, November 18, 2011, 9:13 AM | 10 comments |
 

Flyers, Jets in (17-goal?) rematch; Bryz apologizes

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The last time the Flyers met the Winnipeg Jets, they erupted for eight goals in an Oct. 27 matchup.

And lost.

It was the most goals ever scored by the Flyers in a defeat. They dropped a wild 9-8 decision at the Wells Fargo Center, despite outshooting Winnipeg, 48-25.

On Saturday afternoon, the teams will have a rematch in Winnipeg. The Jets moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta this season.

This will be the Flyers’ first game in Winnipeg since the 1995-96 season.

“It will be pretty exciting to play in front of their fans for the first time,” center Claude Giroux said. “We have to play a better game defensively, obviously, and try to help our goalie a little more. Last time we played Winnipeg, we didn’t help them at all.”

That was the game Ilya Bryzgalov allowed four goals on 10 shots while playing in a relief role. After the game said he was "lost in the woods" and had “zero confidence.”

Since then, he is 5-0-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average.

* * *

Is it me or do Giroux and Jake Voracek, each of whom dyed their mustaches black, remind you of Dan Aykroyd’s character in the old SNL “Wild & Crazy Guys” skit?

* * *

With Jaromir Jagr injured and not making the trip to Winnipeg, coach Peter Laviolette will have to do some lineup- juggling on Saturday. He could insert Andreas Nodl or Jody Shelley into the lineup.

Nodl appears to have recovered from an unspecified injury, and Laviolette may give him the nod because of his attention to defense _ something that was missing the last time the Flyers faced the Jets.

In that game, the teams combined for the most goals (17) in an NHL game since 1996.

* * *

     Bryzgalov has had a strange few days.

     On Thursday, two of his former Coyote teammates chastised him on Phoenix radio.

     On Friday, he apologized to Jets fans for remarks he made last season, when he was critical of the city and said he did not want to play in Winnipeg if Phoenix moved there.

      Speaking to Jets reporters Friday, Bryzgalov said, “I’m pretty sure it’s good people, beautiful people (who) live in Winnipeg. I’m pretty sure it’s passionate fans. I didn’t mean it and I didn’t want to offend anybody. Sincerely, I apologize if I offended anybody in Canada or Winnipeg.”

  * * *

   Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.

 


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Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 9:13 AM  Permalink | 10 comments
10
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:42 AM, 11/18/2011
    He looks like Mario from the Mario Brother's Games!!!
    — exrec9
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:45 AM, 11/18/2011
    Lets hope that Jagr's injury isn't goingto be one that keeps him out very long. I really don't want to have teams keeping games as close as last night as it gives bad teams (not saying Coyates are bad) a thought they could win against us.
    — srcdaddy1216
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:11 PM, 11/18/2011
    was it me or did Jakob Voracek look lost last night. I was there and he wasn't sure what he should do, hold, pass or shoot. Looks like a lack of confidence (I hope).
    — jpat2411
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:15 PM, 11/18/2011
    They were praising Voracek on the broadcast, but I think he's looked lost since the second week of the season. It's fine though, since Read is doing his job anyway.
    — HandNik
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:59 PM, 11/18/2011
    jagr has a sweet stache going too
    — bruiser81
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:57 PM, 11/18/2011
    Giroux's stash looks terrible. Shave it off or at least dont dye it.Stick with what you know. Score goals
    — PhillyFever
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:56 PM, 11/18/2011
    I disagree about Voracek - lately he's been working hard in the corners, taking care of his own end, and making sweet passes.
    — gob1234
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:21 AM, 11/19/2011
    Voracek has been playing very well since the Columbus game - he has been one of the most consistent Flyers during that span, and played very well the other night (it was his work that led to the game winning goal).
    — cyniccritic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:33 AM, 11/19/2011
    I missed something, what did Bryz get chastised for? Might want to update the article Sam and include that little nugget.
    — amg
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:21 PM, 11/19/2011
    he looks good wit or wit out
    — debbyt


10 comments
About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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