When you make the kind of decision Peter Laviolette did yesterday, you had better be right.
So far, so good.
The Flyers coach astounded just about everyone by not only deciding to go with Brian Boucher as his starter in goal, but banishing rookie Sergei Bobrovsky to the bench.
Laviolette’s move had tonges wagging all over the region, if not the entire league.
Bobrovsky had been the Flyers’ starter all year. But after losing a 1-0 game in the opener to the Sabres, then not playing well and getting pulled in the first period of Game 2 – which the Flyers eventually won – he was not even dressed for Game 3.
Lots of people were incredulous, not so much at the move to Boucher, but at the fact that “Bob” was not even on the bench. Instead the native of Russia was banished to his own gulag in the press box.
I think I know why.
It goes back to to the moves the Flyers made at the end of the regular season to get Michael Leighton, who had been playing with the Phantoms in the AHL, back through waivers and onto the Flyers roster.
I think the Flyers saw this possibility coming. Not that they wanted it, but that they wanted a plan in case it did.
In reality, the only decision Laviolette had to make was whether or not Bobrovsky would be the starter in Game 3. Once he made the move to Boucher, that kicked in the other scenario.
What the Flyers really wanted in this series is for Bobrovsky to play well and Boucher be on the bench just in case. But the reverse is not the case. If the Flyers moved to Boucher as their starter, they wanted Leighton – not Bobrovsky – on the bench.
When Bobrovsky would suffer a regular season meltdown, the Flyers were always confident they could yank him and Boucher would come on to try to put out the fire. The reverse is not true.
If you look at the times Boucher started and was pulled, with Bobrovsky coming on in relief, you will find that “Bob” did not play especially well in that role.
That’s why the Flyers wanted Leighton on the roster. And why once they made the decision to start Boucher, they wanted Leighton on the bench and Bobrovsky in the press box.
Last night Boucher stopped 35 shots and the Flyers rolled over the Sabres to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
That does not mean Bobrovsky will not be back in this series. But my guess is that if he does, it will only be as a starter. Don’t look for him to be coming off the bench.
That job now belongs to Leighton. At least until Boucher wobbles. Which basically takes us right bck to where we were last year in terms of Flyers' goaltenders. Can you win a Stanley Cup this weay? We're about to find out.
If we know one thing, it is that Laviolette coaches day by day, and game by game. Where this goaltender carousel winds up is anyone’s guess.
Laviolette does not especially care who gets bruised in the process. I think his players understand that.
As usual, he made the right call. That’s just one more reason why he is the best coach in the city.
So far, so good.
The Flyers coach astounded just about everyone by not only deciding to go with Brian Boucher as his starter in goal, but banishing rookie Sergei Bobrovsky to the bench.
Laviolette’s move had tonges wagging all over the region, if not the entire league.
Bobrovsky had been the Flyers’ starter all year. But after losing a 1-0 game in the opener to the Sabres, then not playing well and getting pulled in the first period of Game 2 – which the Flyers eventually won – he was not even dressed for Game 3.
Lots of people were incredulous, not so much at the move to Boucher, but at the fact that “Bob” was not even on the bench. Instead the native of Russia was banished to his own gulag in the press box.
I think I know why.
It goes back to to the moves the Flyers made at the end of the regular season to get Michael Leighton, who had been playing with the Phantoms in the AHL, back through waivers and onto the Flyers roster.
I think the Flyers saw this possibility coming. Not that they wanted it, but that they wanted a plan in case it did.
In reality, the only decision Laviolette had to make was whether or not Bobrovsky would be the starter in Game 3. Once he made the move to Boucher, that kicked in the other scenario.
What the Flyers really wanted in this series is for Bobrovsky to play well and Boucher be on the bench just in case. But the reverse is not the case. If the Flyers moved to Boucher as their starter, they wanted Leighton – not Bobrovsky – on the bench.
When Bobrovsky would suffer a regular season meltdown, the Flyers were always confident they could yank him and Boucher would come on to try to put out the fire. The reverse is not true.
If you look at the times Boucher started and was pulled, with Bobrovsky coming on in relief, you will find that “Bob” did not play especially well in that role.
That’s why the Flyers wanted Leighton on the roster. And why once they made the decision to start Boucher, they wanted Leighton on the bench and Bobrovsky in the press box.
Last night Boucher stopped 35 shots and the Flyers rolled over the Sabres to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
That does not mean Bobrovsky will not be back in this series. But my guess is that if he does, it will only be as a starter. Don’t look for him to be coming off the bench.
That job now belongs to Leighton. At least until Boucher wobbles. Which basically takes us right bck to where we were last year in terms of Flyers' goaltenders. Can you win a Stanley Cup this weay? We're about to find out.
If we know one thing, it is that Laviolette coaches day by day, and game by game. Where this goaltender carousel winds up is anyone’s guess.
Laviolette does not especially care who gets bruised in the process. I think his players understand that.
As usual, he made the right call. That’s just one more reason why he is the best coach in the city.
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