The storyline heading into tonight’s game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Phoenix Coyotes was the fact that goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov would be facing his former team. It wouldn’t have been that big of a deal, as teams lose players to free agency all the time, if it weren’t for the comments made earlier in the day by some of his former teammates.
Travis Hughes and Broad Street Hockey posted a transcript of remarks from defensemen Derek Morris and Adrian Aucoin with ‘Yotes broadcaster Todd Walsh, including this gem: “He’s known for letting in bad goals, you know, so I think our mindset is going to be get the puck down behind the net and hopefully he comes out and plays a few because he doesn’t like to do that.”
A night off from the Flyers could have created a self-fulfilling prophecy, but they managed to stay focused through the whole sixty minutes, as they have in their past two games. They even lost Jaromir Jagr to the dreaded “lower body injury” after his second shift of the game, but had the depth to mix up the lines without missing a step.
“Really , it’s an opportunity for somebody else to step up and fill that void and that role,” said Chris Pronger. ” A lot more guys got more minutes because of that, with chances on the powerplay and all the rest of that stuff. Guys need to make the most of it.”
Couturier filled in for Jagr at first, but he was replaced with a variety of players as the game continued. His ice time was kept short in the third period, though it didn’t help him that the Flyers managed to keep the penalties to a minimum, aside from Zac Rinaldo’s usual antics.
Rinaldo took only one shift in the third period. At the end of his shift, he got involved in a chirping match with Keith Yandle and Shane Doan that resulted in a 10 minute game misconduct for inciting. Rinaldo jokingly said after the game, “[Have I been called for] inciting? Honestly, I think I have, but I don’t know what it is.”
Claude Giroux, who led the team in ice time, assisted on the first goal of the game from James Van Riemsdyk. He corralled the puck to JVR at the Flyers’ blue line and JVR was able to power his way to the other end of the ice ahead of the Coyotes’ defense. Kimmo Timonen followed him into the offensive zone, pulling a defender with him and giving JVR the opportunity to beat goaltender Mike Smith up high without interference.
The Flyers lost the lead early in the third period, as Matt Carle was unable to take Mikkel Boedker off the puck while he hacked away at it in the crease. Bryzgalov chose to lift his pads to gain traction at an inopportune moment and the puck slid underneath him. Carle was the only Flyer to finish a with a negative +/-.
The game appeared to be headed to overtime, but Matt Read chipped in a loose rebound from a Jake Voracek shot for the game winning goal with 18.6 seconds left. The Road Warriors™ now have four goals in the last three games. This line could have easily taken their feet off the pedal and play just enough to ensure they gain a point, but they fought hard until the very end.
Bryzgalov and Smith both deserve recognition for keeping the scoring low despite being peppered with 73 shots between the two of them. In light of his former teammates’ comments, and arguably the idiots who exclaimed “goalie controversy (!)” after a handful of bad games a few weeks ago, Bryzgalov remarked, “Who doesn’t give up bad goals? Who doesn’t make mistakes?”
General manager Paul Holmgren said it better- “I’m not going to comment on what other people say. Who cares.”
The Flyers will now travel to the ‘Peg for a rematch with the Jets. Lord help us if there is another 17 goal onslaught in the works.
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Coyotes sound like spurned lovers. Bryz was good when he had to be last night and Voracek played really well again. Talbot and Read are like they are shot out of cannon on every shift. I love to watch those guys on the ice.