The Flyers’ fortunes are now moving past the bizarre and into the realm of miracles.
It was once said of their most famous goalie, the man on whose back the Broad Street Bullies once scrapped their way to back-to-back Stanley Cups, “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent.”
Maybe the Lord could explain what has happened to the Flyers goaltending corps this year.
The woes in the nets took another strange twist last night in Boston, but even the loss of latest starter Brian Boucher could not halt the Flyers. Boucher started, but Michael Leighton finished as the Flyers blanked the Bruins last night, 4-0, to pull to within 3-2 in their Stanley Cup matchup.
Consider what has happened with the Flyers netminders this year. Ray Emery was the first to go down, early in the year after a promising start. That’s when the Flyers turned to Boucher. In the meantime, they signed Leighton. He was pushed into duty when Boucher was injured.
Leighton promptly played very well, and, of course, was injured before the playoffs. The Flyers want back to Boucher. All was well until that pileup in front of the net last night. Boucher was bent awkwardly backward with his legs still under him. He was last seen being helped off the ice. Re-enter Leighton, who had just been activated for the game.
It now looks like the Flyers’ goaltending duties will be in Leighton’s hands for the rest of the playoffs.
The way the Flyers’ year has gone, Leighton shouldn’t get too comfortable.
Then again, neither should the Bruins. Problems keeping their goalie between the pipes haven’t stopped the Flyers to this point.
They’re trying to do something historic, something a Flyers team has never done. That would be rebound from a 3-0 deficit to win a Stanley Cup playoff series.
The miracles continue Wednesday night at the Wachovia Center.
It was once said of their most famous goalie, the man on whose back the Broad Street Bullies once scrapped their way to back-to-back Stanley Cups, “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent.”
Maybe the Lord could explain what has happened to the Flyers goaltending corps this year.
The woes in the nets took another strange twist last night in Boston, but even the loss of latest starter Brian Boucher could not halt the Flyers. Boucher started, but Michael Leighton finished as the Flyers blanked the Bruins last night, 4-0, to pull to within 3-2 in their Stanley Cup matchup.
Consider what has happened with the Flyers netminders this year. Ray Emery was the first to go down, early in the year after a promising start. That’s when the Flyers turned to Boucher. In the meantime, they signed Leighton. He was pushed into duty when Boucher was injured.
Leighton promptly played very well, and, of course, was injured before the playoffs. The Flyers want back to Boucher. All was well until that pileup in front of the net last night. Boucher was bent awkwardly backward with his legs still under him. He was last seen being helped off the ice. Re-enter Leighton, who had just been activated for the game.
It now looks like the Flyers’ goaltending duties will be in Leighton’s hands for the rest of the playoffs.
The way the Flyers’ year has gone, Leighton shouldn’t get too comfortable.
Then again, neither should the Bruins. Problems keeping their goalie between the pipes haven’t stopped the Flyers to this point.
They’re trying to do something historic, something a Flyers team has never done. That would be rebound from a 3-0 deficit to win a Stanley Cup playoff series.
The miracles continue Wednesday night at the Wachovia Center.
Comments