And what I see, is a lot of people rooting for him to fail. I see a lot of people blaming him for every single goal. I see people trying to tell those others to look at the bigger picture, and not be so shallow minded, and I see them getting labeled as apologists.

Yes. His fundamentals are off. He's had issues tracking the puck. His rebound control has been wanting. His lateral movement, at times has looked more stiff than a corpse. His glove hand hasn't been very reliable at times, as he's failed to catch several pucks that hit his glove.

Is that being negative enough about him for your taste? Should I criticize his comments on HBO? How about his jacket that looks like it came from a Members Only outlet store in Delaware? Because people don't just stop at blaming him for his on ice performance, they carry it over into his personality.

If that causes some of us to limit our critique to one sentence in a post, or if some of us want to focus on the good in his game and the likelihood of him bouncing back and playing well then I guess you can either deal with it, or ignore what we post.
- Jsaquella

My problem is that it seems that the opposing goalies always get passes because our players dont score weak goals, or what have you. If Bryz lets up a goal, he should have had it. Tim Thomas on the other hand was sniped all day.

There have been plenty of games where Bryz has been really weak.. yesterday IMO wasnt one of them.. I also dont understand how the good stuff he did gets so easily over looked. He made how many huge saves yesterday? I know about 7 off hand.

best was seeing schenn run that mutant chara like 5 times
- Crimsoninja

Yeah, it was like him and Sestito had a bet on who could knock Chara down more times.

Yup, to be honest, I would not mind if there was a trade, if Sestito became a regular player. Just have an energy line of Sestito,Talbot,Rinaldo.
- RooNosHockey

Not even sure what "energy-line" means. Sounds like something Coatsie made up. In my opinion, if they aren't a scoring-line they should be a shut-down line.

Some interseting stats (subject to change as the season is far from over)

Phoenix
Bryz 2010 - 2.48 GAA, .921 sv%
Smith 2011 - 2.46 GAA, .921 Sv%

Smith 2010 (TB) 2.90 GAA, .899 sv%
Bryz 2011 (PHI) 2.99 GAA, .895 sv%

So Smith and Bryz, playing for virtually the same defense post nearly identical numbers. Smith and Bryz playing for bad defenses post almost the same numbers.

Smith Playoff (career) 1.00, .958 (3 games)
Bryz Playoff (career) 2.55, .917 (27 games)

Big difference but if you take away the years where he was behind a hall of fame defense (Chris Pronger in his prime + scott neidermeyer, etc) his numbers become more pedestrian

Bryz Playoff (PHO) .896, 3.76 gaa (11 games)

Yes, I know he ran into Detroit in the playoffs in phoenix but you would think at least his sv% would be better. There's no reason to think he's going to have it any easier in Philly in the playoffs. The Flyers may score more goals than Phoenix but they don't defend any better.

I know Bryz is here for 9 years so there will be plenty of time to discuss this but in his case does the defense make the goalie or does the goalie make the defense?

best was seeing schenn run that mutant chara like 5 times
- Crimsoninja

The hit on Kampfer was text book, he was extremely physical in the game yesterday. I hope he doesn't wake up with a headache today.

Yeah, it was like him and Sestito had a bet on who could knock Chara down more times.
- Jsaquella

What was Chara thinking on that one. He bent over in half with his head sticking out into Sestito. #DowngoesChara

best was seeing schenn run that mutant chara like 5 times
- Crimsoninja

Yeah after seeing that all day, it was umm, hard for me to stand up without being embarrassed.

My problem is that it seems that the opposing goalies always get passes because our players dont score weak goals, or what have you. If Bryz lets up a goal, he should have had it. Tim Thomas on the other hand was sniped all day.
- jak521

That's a factor, too.

I have zero issue with fair criticism. I have a lot of issues with unfair stuff. I don't think Bryzgalov has played as well as he can, and I do think he's going to improve and be a worthy piece of the puzzle. I'd rather focus on that than on being negative.

And what I see, is a lot of people rooting for him to fail. I see a lot of people blaming him for every single goal. I see people trying to tell those others to look at the bigger picture, and not be so shallow minded, and I see them getting labeled as apologists.

Yes. His fundamentals are off. He's had issues tracking the puck. His rebound control has been wanting. His lateral movement, at times has looked more stiff than a corpse. His glove hand hasn't been very reliable at times, as he's failed to catch several pucks that hit his glove.

Is that being negative enough about him for your taste? Should I criticize his comments on HBO? How about his jacket that looks like it came from a Members Only outlet store in Delaware? Because people don't just stop at blaming him for his on ice performance, they carry it over into his personality.

If that causes some of us to limit our critique to one sentence in a post, or if some of us want to focus on the good in his game and the likelihood of him bouncing back and playing well then I guess you can either deal with it, or ignore what we post.
- Jsaquella

The hit on Kampfer was text book, he was extremely physical in the game yesterday. I hope he doesn't wake up with a headache today.
- PLindbergh31

you know that was a fumble


forward progress my ass

Interestingly enough.. a guy who has spent the vast majority of his time on the 4th line and killing penalties, Sean Couturier, is a + 13.


- jak521

I noticed that too. Amazing.

My problem is that it seems that the opposing goalies always get passes because our players dont score weak goals, or what have you. If Bryz lets up a goal, he should have had it. Tim Thomas on the other hand was sniped all day.

There have been plenty of games where Bryz has been really weak.. yesterday IMO wasnt one of them.. I also dont understand how the good stuff he did gets so easily over looked. He made how many huge saves yesterday? I know about 7 off hand.
- jak521

YOUR opinion.

best was seeing schenn run that mutant chara like 5 times
- Crimsoninja

I thought the overall physical nature of yesterday's game was great and to see the Flyers throw the body to Chara while some teams dont even bother made the game even more entertaining.

Holy (frank). The Red Wings have won 17 straight home games. Wow.

They will be tested tonight by that Blue Note that roles into Motown. Great game looking forward to watching it.

Because our 4th line isn't a shutdown defensive line like it used to be, and because they aren't as gifted offensively they are on the ice for more goals against, then goals for.
- RooNosHockey

It'd be nice to have a pure shutdown line ala Malty-Draper-McCarty that can pot the odd goal but with the way the game has changed with its higher pace, teams try to utilize 3 scoring lines with a 4th line that will provide spot duty but mostly can't be relied upon to shutdown top line opponents. Just the way of the game along with the salary cap.

YOUR opinion.
- MBFlyerfan

Absolutely my opinion.. also my opinion that, had it not been for Bryz, yesterdays game should have been 5 or 6-1 after the first.

Holy (frank). The Red Wings have won 17 straight home games. Wow.

They will be tested tonight by that Blue Note that roles into Motown. Great game looking forward to watching it.
- PLindbergh31

The Blues are my favorite west coast team (and have been for years.. unfortunately mostly rough over the last few).. they are a hell of a team to watch.

you know that was a fumble


forward progress my ass
- Crimsoninja

The Giants were jobbed by the Refs in GB, they were do a makeup call.

The Blues are my favorite west coast team (and have been for years.. unfortunately mostly rough over the last few).. they are a hell of a team to watch.
- jak521

The few times I have seen them this year under Hitch I have been super impressed. Getting great goaltending from Elliott, and now Halak as well.

Not even sure what "energy-line" means. Sounds like something Coatsie made up. In my opinion, if they aren't a scoring-line they should be a shut-down line.
- Dkos

IMO an energy line is a line that goes out there, hits everything that moves, might fight if need be... Its a line that when the building is quiet, you put them out there and after about 30 seconds the fans are cheering at the top of thier lungs...

Like the Carcillo-Betts-Lappy line a few years ago.

Some interseting stats (subject to change as the season is far from over)

Phoenix
Bryz 2010 - 2.48 GAA, .921 sv%
Smith 2011 - 2.46 GAA, .921 Sv%

Smith 2010 (TB) 2.90 GAA, .899 sv%
Bryz 2011 (PHI) 2.99 GAA, .895 sv%

So Smith and Bryz, playing for virtually the same defense post nearly identical numbers. Smith and Bryz playing for bad defenses post almost the same numbers.

Smith Playoff (career) 1.00, .958 (3 games)
Bryz Playoff (career) 2.55, .917 (27 games)

Big difference but if you take away the years where he was behind a hall of fame defense (Chris Pronger in his prime + scott neidermeyer, etc) his numbers become more pedestrian

Bryz Playoff (PHO) .896, 3.76 gaa (11 games)

Yes, I know he ran into Detroit in the playoffs in phoenix but you would think at least his sv% would be better. There's no reason to think he's going to have it any easier in Philly in the playoffs. The Flyers may score more goals than Phoenix but they don't defend any better.

I know Bryz is here for 9 years so there will be plenty of time to discuss this but in his case does the defense make the goalie or does the goalie make the defense?
- Flyers_01

It goes hand in hand.

Martin Brodeur has won exactly one playoff series since the Devils lost Niedermayer, Stevens and Daneyko. Thomas plays behind a good defensive team and Chara.

That said, I think that a lot of things snowballed on Bryzgalov this year. He's had bad luck, and been victimized by poor play. In turn that seems to have affected his confidence and has his fundamentals thrown off.

He seems indecisive at times and he's not playing at the top of his crease. That leaves him more prone to allowing deflection goals. He seems to be cheating, as if he's expecting a deflection or breakdown.

He has to work hard to get his fundamentals straight and his confidence back.

Absolutely my opinion.. also my opinion that, had it not been for Bryz, yesterdays game should have been 5 or 6-1 after the first.
- jak521

I'm not going to hammer Bryz yet. I have been trying to stay positive as much as I can. He hasn't been great, but he hasn't been aweful either. I would say he is just average right now. I'm sure he will work past all this junk, and be right in the playoffs, if not, we still have Bob.

The few times I have seen them this year under Hitch I have been super impressed. Getting great goaltending from Elliott, and now Halak as well.
- PLindbergh31

Not only that, but they play a blue collar game. TJ Oshie can flat out play. He also hits like a truck. David Backes is one of the true leaders in the game. Plays both ends of the ice very well.. is a big 1st line power forward, just flat out gives it his all.

Pietrangelo is gonna be a hell of player.. scary the potential that team possesses

Not only that, but they play a blue collar game. TJ Oshie can flat out play. He also hits like a truck. David Backes is one of the true leaders in the game. Plays both ends of the ice very well.. is a big 1st line power forward, just flat out gives it his all.

Pietrangelo is gonna be a hell of player.. scary the potential that team possesses
- jak521

richards for backes

When your big selling point as a state is no sales tax, you get lumped in with the outlet store jokes.

I love going to Delaware and buying stuff without handing the state 7%
- Jsaquella

total wine baby