Beginning October 26, rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky started 12 games in 24 days. With a 9-2-1 record and a 2.29 goals-against-average, there’s no question that he earned those starts. The question on everyone’s mind, though, was how long could he keep this up?
In his last game of that stretch, he was pulled after being shelled by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a ridiculous 8-7 defensive fire sale (“All defense must go!”). Coach Peter Laviolette denied seeing any signs that Bob was fatigued, but the young netminder knew better and told the coaching staff that he needed time off.
After 5 days off, Bob returned to the ice tonight and notched his 12th win of the season as the team rocked the Minnesota Wild 6-1.
The time off for Bob has paid off in a number of ways for the team. For himself, Bob was able to take some of the pressure off his shoulders that has been placed on him since the preseason. He was able to practice again with goalie coach Jeff Reese, who has already had a tremendous impact on adjusting his game for the NHL.
Most importantly, he got some much-needed rest. Bobrovsky has never started more than 35 games in a given season and he’s already started half the amount of his 2008-2009 season with the Novokuznetsk Metallurg. Factor in that he stretches his body more than most goaltenders (heck, most gymnasts), and you’ve got a player who is running the risk of serious injury without a break.
For the team, it was also a chance to let goaltender Brian Boucher get back on the ice and prove that he could be relied upon to carry the load if needed. With two starts and two wins against two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, both the team’s and the coach’s confidence in their goaltending tandem has strengthened.
I would expect that Laviolette will be listening to Bobrovsky more closely in the future as well as giving Boosh more starts in the middle of long stretches. Boosh may even get the start against New Jersey on Saturday after his performance in the first round of last season’s playoffs.
In related news, Bobrovsky is in 2nd place in voting for one of the goaltending roster spots in the 2011 NHL All-Star game. As of this week, his 58,101 votes are second to Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price’s 71,199 votes. Both goaltenders are write-ins and while I would be surprised if Bob managed to edge out his competition, it’s another sign to the organization that this kid has been embraced by Philadelphia.
It would serve them well to give him time off when he asks for it.
Yeah, it would. He looked great out there on wednesday. He looked quick, fresh, and excited. Let’s just keep his stretches to 6 games a piece from here on out, eh Lavy?