Congrats Bill... It is the greatest joy of all...fatherhood that is.

No credit to the Pens for refocusing as players & playing well?

It's the opposite of last season with similar results. Last year, the team D looked ok and he looked bad until they all did together and then kind of shored things up together. This year, he started solid while the team D has been poor. Now his play has declined as the team D has stayed poor. That has to wear on a goalie who has no faith in the inept people in front of him. Confidence works both ways.
- Flyskippy

He has a few scored on him this year because he was cheating, and seemed to be expecting the defensive breakdown. That's on him, but people talk about being able to trust the goalie, it's a two way street

There is no doubt at all in my mind that they way the team is playing in front of Bryzgalov is affecting him. Imagine thinking you have to stand on your head and carry the team every single game, to have a chance to win? Even against Ottawa he had to make 4 big saves on point blank chances on players uncovered in front of the net, in the first period. That weighs on you mentally. Instead of knowing that all he has to do is come out and play his game and make the savs that need to be made. While having the support of the team in front of you. Rather then having to be a miracle worker every game.
- MJL

Now imagine being 1990's Dominik Hasek. Even weirder for not going down with the ship that was the paltry pre-1999 Sabres ship & letting his play suffer.

Congrats Bill... It is the greatest joy of all...fatherhood that is.

No credit to the Pens for refocusing as players & playing well?
- Doogs

I don't think it's a slight to the Pens as much as a needed look inwards. This team's getting killed on the same mistakes.

Congrats Bill... It is the greatest joy of all...fatherhood that is.

No credit to the Pens for refocusing as players & playing well?
- Doogs

From Page 7

As soon as the Penguins regrouped at intermission, they came out and played smart, disciplined hockey. They were aggressive, but it was controlled. They stayed in the system and were accountable all over the ice-they supported the puck, didn't over pursue, didn't allow themselves to be goaded into stupid penalties and the Flyers had no answer.
- Jsaq

We dont even need a true defensive system..

What we need is balance. Look at the Blackhawks! They are constantly supporting each other in all three zones. Great (and smart) team play in all three zones is what breeds success. You cant expect to win every game 6-5 or 2-1...
- jak521

One of the biggest fallacies going. That it's a trade off between one or the other. If you play well defensively, then you'll score less. That's bull! Plenty of teams prove that you can do both.

Not even close.

That's like arguing that Ray Emery is better than Bryz because he's 10-0. Bryz has been rock solid all year long, but he gets no help from the D or the forwards. Bernie Parent would still have the same GAA as Bryz right now.
- KGBflyers10

at some point, the #'s don't lie. to say that his performance on balance, is more than avg at this point is blind loyalty. sv % is .899 and that's not good enuf in any league.

BTW, I dig the mask...that's badass.
- Jsaquella

funny I think it is gaudy and totally unattractive.

This is better

BTW, I dig the mask...that's badass.
- Jsaquella

thanks. the elements are a combination of usa/israel/athletic/biblical meaning. really tried to capture the spirit of the thing.

the lion is the symbol of judah maccabi, and i'm also a leo (have loved lions since i was a kid). the 11 stars of david represent the israeli athletes killed at the summer games in munich in 72 (hence the 72 on the chin in center star) and is also my birth year. usa and eagle and colors are self explanatory. wife and kids on the backplate. 022280 is the miracle on ice.

not a Bryz fan but he has been one of the best players on the team
- vejim

He was great for the first 11 games but he's been horribly in consistent since. Some games he comes out and looks solid and in the next he seems to lack all confidence.

If you take a look at his game log, in those first 11 games, he posted a SV% above .917 7 times and the times he was below where mostly because of poor defense in front of him.

It all came crashing down in game #12 in Toronto. He got pulled after allowing 4 goals, all of which, if you remember, came off of some horrible defensive breakdowns. He didn't even look like he was that off his game. In his 12th through 23rd game (12 games), he's posted a save % over .900 5 times and .800 and below 5 times.

funny I think it is gaudy and totally unattractive.

This is better


- jak521

agreed.

I like that plan. Bryz deserves one season where the defense in front of him aren't running around like morons. If he still can't play like a top 10 goalie even with a solid defense protecting him, then the Flyers should buy him out in summer 2014.
- Feanor

I would prefer that.

thanks. the elements are a combination of usa/israel/athletic/biblical meaning. really tried to capture the spirit of the thing.

the lion is the symbol of judah maccabi, and i'm also a leo (have loved lions since i was a kid). the 11 stars of david represent the israeli athletes killed at the summer games in munich in 72 (hence the 72 on the chin in center star) and is also my birth year. usa and eagle and colors are self explanatory. wife and kids on the backplate. 022280 is the miracle on ice.
- hammarby31

OK, I got the wife & kids, the Maccabi connection with the lion and the Miracle on Ice reference...Missed on the 72...and that makes it even more awesome

haha. trust me, i'm a nerd in my own way.

here's a few pics of the mask (snip)
- hammarby31

I don't think it's a slight to the Pens as much as a needed look inwards. This team's getting killed on the same mistakes.
- BulliesPhan87

I gotcha and can appreciate that.

Thanks

From Page 7
- Jsaquella

Missed that. Sorry.

It's the opposite of last season with similar results. Last year, the team D looked ok and he looked bad until they all did together and then kind of shored things up together. This year, he started solid while the team D has been poor. Now his play has declined as the team D has stayed poor. That has to wear on a goalie who has no faith in the inept people in front of him. Confidence works both ways.
- Flyskippy

I think they played their best team D last year in March and Bryz responded. He was a confident goalie then. Obviously no one can sustain that level of play for 48 games let alone 82 but I think he could be more consistent if he's in a tighter system.

I also think a lot of his struggles early last year had to do with him adjusting to his new surroundings more than the team in front of him.

To be honest, I stopped watching after the first period since I was sure they would collapse. But the fourth goal they scored on MAF was hilarious, so at least I left on a high note.

One of the biggest fallacies going. That it's a trade off between one or the other. If you play well defensively, then you'll score less. That's bull! Plenty of teams prove that you can do both.
- MJL

Im not saying that...

Im saying that people believe you either have an offensive system or a defensive system... Its just not the case.. you have to have balance.. I personally believe the best defense is a good forecheck.. apply pressure get in need to out work the other team, but when they escape your forecheck you need to have support. Your forecheckers need to work even harder on getting back to help out than they did to win the puck in the corner.

You're on crack. Bryz, up until about last week, was great. He put the team time after time in a position to win the game. Its not his fault if the Flyers can't put the puck in the net, and it's not his fault if the D can't get the puck out of the zone.

And he's absolutely tired. He's played more minutes than any other goalie in the league (except maybe one), and has started 23 out of 25 games. That's a ridiculous pace for such a condensed schedule. You're just being ignorant when you say "he's a professional athlete that is paid to play hockey". Guess what? Hockey is a demanding job. What are you saying? You never get burnt out from your job?

But who am I kidding, you're probably in college.
- KGBflyers10

I don't think so buddy he is 23rd in GAA for goalies that have played more than 11 games and his save percentage is even lower among the same goalies, so how can u say he has been the best player for them. I agree the defense has been bad and that is why I said he needs to steal games for us so we can contend and he is not doing this. I am not being ignorant saying he is a professional athlete, Pekka Rinne and Jimmy Howard have played almost the same amount of minutes with defenses that have lost a key piece this year and they show no signs of being tired(in fact Howard had a shutout last night). Bryz needs to play because if he doesnt he is indifferent, distant and does not help the team whatsoever in the dressing room.

At this point Gus needs to go. Guy can't hold onto the puck for his life.
- KGBflyers10

maybe the guy never becomes more than a 5/6/7 dman but he is young and I want him playing personally. this organization has never been patient with young dmen. look at a guy like Seidenberg.

Having a hard time decide which is contract is worse, Bryz, Briere, or Kimmo...Not enough buyouts unfortunately

I don't think so buddy he is 23rd in GAA for goalies that have played more than 11 games and his save percentage is even lower among the same goalies, so how can u say he has been the best player for them. I agree the defense has been bad and that is why I said he needs to steal games for us so we can contend and he is not doing this. I am not being ignorant saying he is a professional athlete, Pekka Rinne and Jimmy Howard have played almost the same amount of minutes with defenses that have lost a key piece this year and they show no signs of being tired(in fact Howard had a shutout last night). Bryz needs to play because if he doesnt he is indifferent, distant and does not help the team whatsoever in the dressing room.
- Daceroni

Because the rest of the team has been terrible.

Flyers have one of the worst team defenses in the entire league.

Its not about your 6 defensemen. Its about your 18 skaters playing TEAM DEFENSE. The Flyers are not a very good team defensively. Nashville and Detroit on the other hand.. are MUCH better defensively.

maybe the guy never becomes more than a 5/6/7 dman but he is young and I want him playing personally. this organization has never been patient with young dmen. look at a guy like Seidenberg.
- nastyflyergirl

I think Gus will be a legit 5th or 6th defenseman. I think he has looked good so far this year and he should only get better. He's a much better option than Gervais and Foster.

I don't think so buddy he is 23rd in GAA for goalies that have played more than 11 games and his save percentage is even lower among the same goalies, so how can u say he has been the best player for them. I agree the defense has been bad and that is why I said he needs to steal games for us so we can contend and he is not doing this. I am not being ignorant saying he is a professional athlete, Pekka Rinne and Jimmy Howard have played almost the same amount of minutes with defenses that have lost a key piece this year and they show no signs of being tired(in fact Howard had a shutout last night). Bryz needs to play because if he doesnt he is indifferent, distant and does not help the team whatsoever in the dressing room.
- Daceroni

Bryz has been shaky but, like most of us have been saying, we don't believe it to be because he sucks or is not as talented as previous believed, but because he doesn't trust the team in front of him.