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Go With BOB

December 30, 2011, 6:49 PM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I don't feel it's difficult to get a good read on Flyers coach Peter Laviolette.

He's pretty consistent on most things. For instance, he never announces his goalies until day of game. He NEVER talks about injuries. He always refers those questions "to the GM."

If a player were decapitated at center ice in full view of 18,000 people, Lavy would defer to Paul Holmgren as to that player's status for the next game.

Likewise, Lavy is good at rewarding good play. Especially, when it comes to his goaltenders. When Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't getting it done and Lavy gave Sergei Bobrovsky a chance in net, he rewarded the series of points BOB got with more starts.

On that basis, I am thinking Lavy might very well go with BOB against the Rangers in the Winter Classic. And his justification is simple: BOB is being rewarded and his game right now is more polished than Bryz, who continues to work with goalie coach Jeff Reese.

My colleague at CSN, John Boruk, says - as does Al Morganti _ that NOT to play Bryz against the Rangers will be a huge embarrassment for him and resonate into the future.

Well, guess what? Bryz's inconsistency is resonating right now with the Flyers in the overall standings. I asked a veteran FLyer before last night what the effect would be if BOB started the Winter Classic.

He said to me it might serve to light a fire under Bryz and get him refocused. There is a feeling among the players that Bryz just isn't as focused here as he should be when he gets in net.

I agree with Bill Meltzer - play BOB and damn the consequences. Question is, does Lavy really believe in what he preaches: you reward success with playing time or starts in goal?

Or does Lavy allows Reese to make the call in which case, it's Bryz.

Who do YOU think should start in the Winter Classic?

Here's Boruk's opinion on CSNPhilly.com:
click here
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