With late theatrics, Flyers bail out Bryz
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With late theatrics, Flyers bail out Bryz
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
WINNIPEG _ Earlier this season in a game against Winnipeg, the Flyers set a dubious franchise record: most goals scored in a loss - eight.
On Tuesday night, they seemed destined to set another unwanted mark - most shots on goal in a road loss.
But in the closing seconds of regulation and the final minute of overtime, they scored on-the-doorstep goals, producing a had-to-see-it-to-believe-it 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets at the ear-splitting MTS Centre.
“We were just resilient tonight,” said winger Wayne Simmonds, who tied the game by tapping in a James van Riemsdyk feed with 9.7 seconds left in regulation.
If the Jets had held on for 10 more seconds, they would have jumped from ninth to third in the Eastern Conference, and the Flyers would have slid to sixth.
Jagr converted a Danny Briere pass with 43.1 seconds remaining in overtime, preventing a dreaded shootout, where the Flyers are 1-5 this season and 20-39 in their career. (Jagr scored in his first game in Winnipeg since 1996, when he also had the game-winner in a 1-0 Penguins victory.)
Given the shaky play of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and the acrobatics of Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec, not many would have liked the Flyers’ chances if it had gone into OT.
But the Flyers’ relentless attack - they equaled a franchise road record with 55 shots - produced a dramatic, memorable ending, one that should give them momentum for the four-game road trip.
Bryzgalov said his teammates bailed him out after he allowed a weak goal early in the third period.
“I think we win because the team deserved to win,” Bryzgalov said. “They play unbelievable and create so many great, great chances to score. I think it’s a fair result.”
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
delta is absolutely right....how can you take two very good goalies and make them both into two very bad goalies (at times). i know in the past some of the shots were fluke goals rolling over pads and under arms, and some goals were caused by defensive breakdowns and bad turnovers in the most perfect spots, but it seems to me that bob's only problem at the start were high shots scoring on him. He seemed to be too deep in the net at times, but now it seems as though he is playing awkwardly, almost like he's doing things that he doesn't feel comfortable with. Same with Bryz. At this point they both seem to not be playing to their skills, almost like they are being "coached" to do things differently. I still feel if you let them do what they do best, and how they do it comfortably, and just "tweak" certain situations ....all will be well. We have the offense, now we have a beefed up defense, the goalies need to be relaxed and see what happens. What are you going to do? Trade for a Goalie? Who? Same thing happened to thomas two years ago, then the next year he won a cup. Lunqui is playing well over his head, he'll cool down at the wrong time I bet. IF WE CAN'T MAKE A RUN WITH THESE TWO GOALIES, THEN IT HAS TO BE THE COACHING OF THE GOALIES.— Pocono Phlyer- Hey man, how do you conclude these guys were "very good goalies" at any point? There is an argument for Bryz based on regular season numbers from a couple seasons (though he had some clunkers too), but Bob was ranked 25th in GAA and 23rd in save percentage last year. When you say Bob's "only problem" was high shots, well, that is half the net!!! Pretty big problem. He was also awful last year on rebounds, positioning (hence the acrobatic looking saves), and puck control. He was not drafted by any team, so it is not as if we should have had high expectations for him.
Basically what you are saying is that unless a coach can take two goalies ranked between 40-46, out of 46 goalies, then that coach should be fired. That is a lot to ask of someone not on the ice during games. Some guys just don't have the skill to be coached to greatness, and I would put Bob in that category. He is the problem, not the coach. - Somebody give Briere his due...the smallest guy on the ice was an absolute animal winning puck battles, including the one that led directly to the OT goal. The bigger guys should all be ashamed, if they had half as much heart as he does they'd be perennial all stars.— Darren9
- I doubt Bryz couldn't stop 9 of 10 shots from going in if he had the Zamboni parked in front of the goal.— bigmaclau
- Look, just get behind Bryz. We are not trading for a goalie and Bob has been marginally better than Bryz if not inconsistent. Just get behind Bryz. Yeah he's making $51M and playing like $500k. Give the guy a break, get behind him and maybe the team gets hot at the right time.— NYFlyersFan
- @Barry1757 I am hoping that we lock up sixth place in the conference. That way we get to play Florida or Washington while the Rangers get into upset territory with Toronto or Ottawa. I'll take the six spot on the road and won't look back!— NYFlyersFan
- The 4th goal was similar to one of the previous games where he flat out missed the puck with his glove. Bryz would be a terrible first baseman for the Phillies. It is like Howard missing a throw chest high right at him. Does Bryz need contact lenses?— bobmont
- The more Bryz drives Carchidi and the people on this comment board nuts, the more I start to like him.— PhillyWheelhouse
I can't understand the thinking that Bryz is going to be better in the playoffs. In last year's playoffs the Wings lit him up like a Christmas tree.- Just for you, right in your wheelhouse, as they say. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dGjEkc_qrQ& I particularly like the replay from behind Cleary. And notice the score. Not unlike last night.
— icarus - this is just what the doctor ordered for bryz time away from philly maybe if he can string together a couple road wins it will give him time to gain some confidence back before the flyer fans boo him out of the wells fargo center next week— davidmiller44
- D guys left Bryz hanging last night.Goals he let in were not SOFT like against Pittsburgh.Kabina did not look good or like he was playing in the system[was his first game though] Matt Carle still gets aton of oppurtunities to score and can't put the puck in the net. Suter would have had 3 goals last night if he had the chances Carle had [good Winnipeg goalie would not have stopped him]— whilly
- huh?? a soft wrister from the point with no screen in front of him that literally goes THROUGH HIS GLOVE isn't soft?? in what league? Junior Flyers? no one is saying all 4 goals were his fault, but he lets in 1 softie EVERY GAME, sometimes 2-3. enough already. the D is mediocre, not terrible, but he is killing us with soft goals every game. bottom line.
- Hey FlyerFan4life I agree with you, but
The Leighton talk is more tongue in cheek than anything else.( I still say give him a shot) But you must agree Bryz stinks. We all do. Naby might work, who knows, but we all agree this team is one and done in the playoffs with a softee in net. Bob Went undrafted for a reason, so that was another bad move Not to mention Backlund getting 800k to play minor league hockey. At least Leighton did something for them, he helped them to the finals and was supposed to be signed as a stop gap not the man. The Flyers caught lightning in a bottle that year and being from Boston I totally loved it. It was a great time to brag. Now? Well you know, it's a tough one.
— Boston Flyer - Bad Goalie... no doubt... the real issue is that in 3 years now Laviolette has not even attempted to install a defensive style system of play. Score all the goals you want, sign all the 6'4" defensemen you want, dig up Jacques Plante and put him in goal.. it won't matter.
Other teams run through us like nothing. Defensemen who are supposed to stand you up at the blue line or wingers who are supposed to get back and stop you in center ice don't play on this team. The tem is allowed to run around and do what they want with no responsibility whatsoever. I don't care what his pedigree is, what he's done before, but this team is so undiciplined I can throw up and Laviolette is the only one to blame. He's the problem and he needs to go.— dedhed
