Obviously the 33 games that Flyers fans have seen are far more telling than the previous 326 games.

Nobody mentions that on Seguin's goal, Giroux again left a man in front of the net to go behind the cage. Or that Greg Campbell got inside position on Erik Gustafsson far too easily on his goal. Obviously, if Bryzgalov gives up any kind of goal, it's his fault. Just look at the numbers.
- Jsaquella

Also, haven't you gotten tired of saying this about Flyers goalies for the last, what, 20 years?

2 seasons ago is an eternity in sports.

I am not interested what the guy did 2 seasons ago.

He is paid to be the guy, play like it.

Why is it you want to ignore what it is he is doing this season?
- ggunky

How am I ignoring what he is doing this season? The poster claimed that Bryzgalov isn't capable of stealing games. Does his past before he came to the Flyers not count in coming to that conclusion? When talking about the player and his skill level and what he is capable of, past Seasons are most certainly relevant to the discussion. Now if were talking about just his play this Season up to this point, then his past play wouldn't be relevant. Pretty simple concept here.

I thought it was a great effort yesterday. I think I'm in the minority that thinks that Bryz saved us in the first period from the game getting way out of hand, but openly admit that he should've stopped the 5th goal hands down.

Incredible effort from the team yesterday. Schenn was Richards 2.0 out there and hope that this performance is a springboard for him to step up the rest of the season as it looks like he will get increased minutes.

Love Coots, but yesterday proved he's got to add more muscle to his frame. Of course that will happen over time. He had good positioning on 2 goals but was pushed around by bigger men. At least he knew where to be (Giroux on goal #2).

G is snakebitten, but he's shooting more the last 2 games, it will come around. At least he's getting the assists.

The only thing more frustrating than the refs yesterday (both sides) was listening to Jack Edwards. Would someone please rip his (frank)ing larynx out?
There are homers, then there's Jack Edwards. Some of his beauties were discussed yesterday, but the "inadvertant contact" when Schenn was tripped in the 3rd was the cherry on top for me.

Rip Florida on Tuesday and enjoy a little R & R cuz it will be a battle the rest of the way.
- bgratch

Edwards was dreadful yesterday, calls it two totally different ways.

Very unprofessional when he called Bryz is a sieve and said he's playing like a goalie who's begging to be pulled.

2 seasons ago is an eternity in sports.

I am not interested what the guy did 2 seasons ago.

He is paid to be the guy, play like it.

Why is it you want to ignore what it is he is doing this season?
- ggunky

Is that what he is doing?

How am I ignoring what he is doing this season? The poster claimed that Bryzgalov isn't capable of stealing games. Does his past before he came to the Flyers not count in coming to that conclusion? When talking about the player and his skill level and what he is capable of, past Seasons are most certainly relevant to the discussion. Now if were talking about just his play this Season up to this point, then his past play wouldn't be relevant. Pretty simple concept here.
- MJL

fair enough.

I just want better out of a guy who is paid to be THE GUY.

I want Bryz to succeed! I do!

I loved that they flyers spent the money to solidify a position that has been a sore spot for far to long.

But, they are now past the halfway point and it is time for Bryz to be better then average.

Is that what he is doing?

- MBFlyerfan

who, Bryz?

Also, haven't you gotten tired of saying this about Flyers goalies for the last, what, 20 years?
- ggunky

Yeah, because that is the only reason the Flyers haven't won 10 cups in that span.

The thing is there are defensive breakdowns numerous times a game on every single team in the NHL, it happens.

I don't think most hate Bryz or are just blaming him, I think they just want him to play like a top 10 NHL goalie which he should be and he is being paid to do so.

I agree with your comments on the breakdowns and it is far from always the goalies fault, I just think people want to see some really good goaltending.
- Buts16

I think that a lot of people do want to simply see good goaltending. But I do think that there's plenty that simply talk out of their ass and ignore any positives and turn Bryzgalov into the scapegoat du juor, just like they did with Carle, Carter and any other player that they perceived as not living up to their expectations.

I freely admit Bryzgalov has struggled. But the amount of invective and hatred the guy gets drives me nuts. It sure seems like some Flyers "fans" are happy the guy is struggling.

fair enough.

I just want better out of a guy who is paid to be THE GUY.

I want Bryz to succeed! I do!

I loved that they flyers spent the money to solidify a position that has been a sore spot for far to long.

But, they are now past the halfway point and it is time for Bryz to be better then average.
- ggunky

In my opinion Bryzgalov had a very good weekend, and is showing that he is improving. His numbers are always being thrown around. Well in his last 3 games, here are Bryzgalov's numbers

2-0-1, 2.27, .926 in last 3 GP

I was touching on that next... They also tend to forget some of his bigger saves (cough cough Marchand)... or the fact that, like you said, there were a bunch of break downs. On the Campbell goal I personally think you cant point that on bryz.. he got to the post, but the puck went 5 hole... off of a crazy one-timer from behind the net... it was not a wrap around as Bill has written in his blog.

There were also a number of other times where Bryz's solid play covered up painful mistakes by the skaters..
- jak521

As good and hard as the Flyers did play yesterday, they did have breakdowns, for sure.

People focus on Thomas and the defense of the Bruins, but they can also throw 3 pretty good offensive lines at you as well.

Yeah, because that is the only reason the Flyers haven't won 10 cups in that span.

- MBFlyerfan

It is only the most important position in the sport.

Arguably all of sports.

I think that a lot of people do want to simply see good goaltending. But I do think that there's plenty that simply talk out of their ass and ignore any positives and turn Bryzgalov into the scapegoat du juor, just like they did with Carle, Carter and any other player that they perceived as not living up to their expectations.

I freely admit Bryzgalov has struggled. But the amount of invective and hatred the guy gets drives me nuts. It sure seems like some Flyers "fans" are happy the guy is struggling.
- Jsaquella

I do hate the fans who want him Bryz to fail and want Bob succeed, makes no sense to me at all.

I just want to see some good goaltending most games, I don't care who it is.

I think that a lot of people do want to simply see good goaltending. But I do think that there's plenty that simply talk out of their ass and ignore any positives and turn Bryzgalov into the scapegoat du juor, just like they did with Carle, Carter and any other player that they perceived as not living up to their expectations.

I freely admit Bryzgalov has struggled. But the amount of invective and hatred the guy gets drives me nuts. It sure seems like some Flyers "fans" are happy the guy is struggling.
- Jsaquella

I agree with that statment, like sometimes we (Philly fans) have tough love for a player and it comes across as a player who we want to see fail.

In my opinion Bryzgalov had a very good weekend, and is showing that he is improving. His numbers are always being thrown around. Well in his last 3 games, here are Bryzgalov's numbers

2-0-1, 2.27, .926 in last 3 GP
- MJL

I choose to disagree.

If he stops the 2 soft goals the Flyers more then likely win.

A big game that would have made a statement.

Instead, questions remain.

Also, haven't you gotten tired of saying this about Flyers goalies for the last, what, 20 years?
- ggunky

I haven't been saying it about Flyers goalies for 20 years. The goaltending is not the reason for the Flyers Cup drought, as much as the media would like it to be.

I choose to disagree.

If he stops the 2 soft goals the Flyers more then likely win.

A big game that would have made a statement.

Instead, questions remain.
- ggunky

Your free to disagree. What's the score of the game if Bryzgalov doesn't make a bunch of quality saves in the game? And I would disagree that there were 2 soft goals. In my opinion, only one of the goals is a goal that I think he should have gotten. And that was off the stick of a player that was inside the crease.

I do hate the fans who want him Bryz to fail and want Bob succeed, makes no sense to me at all.

I just want to see some good goaltending most games, I don't care who it is.
- Buts16

That's my view as well. I don;t care if it's Bryz or Bob, just play well.

That's my view as well. I don;t care if it's Bryz or Bob, just play well.
- Jsaquella

If the Flyers win the Cup with Bobrovsky in net, I will be pissed!

Posted this later last night but I think it deserves a quick mention again. Lots of big UFA signings struggle their first season with the new club... the reasons they do can be speculated upon, but it does happen. See Kovalchuk last year and B. Richards this year. But I think more often than not, these guys turn it around. See Kovalchuk this year, and I'd expect B. Richards to have some big years in NY as well.

I also expect Bryz to have big years in Philly, be it the rest of this year or starting over next year.

Your free to disagree. What's the score of the game is Bryzgalov doesn't make a bunch of quality saves in the game? And I would disagree that there were 2 soft goals. In my opinion, only one of the goals is a goal that I think he should have gotten. And that was off the stick of a player that was inside the crease.
- MJL

Make excuses. Say he made stops early. Great.

He allowed another soft goal. No matter how you want to spin it.

A soft goal in what most would view as a statement game.

I agree with that statment, like sometimes we (Philly fans) have tough love for a player and it comes across as a player who we want to see fail.
- wardbomb

The problem is, that tough "love" seems to be born out of lack of knowledge of the sport. Jeff carter was good enough to acquire a very skilled young player and a top ten draft choice, he was one of the top goal scorers in the NHL for the past four years or so and idiots call him a bust or say he's not any good.

That's not tough love, it's blatant stupidity.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 1/23/12
- bmeltzer

51 million dollars can buy a lot of things. I guess though, you still can't afford a shootout stop.

I don't want to lay this all on him. I like Bryz, and want him to do well but he was brought in here to make those stops. It's gotta get done.

The thing is there are defensive breakdowns numerous times a game on every single team in the NHL, it happens.

I don't think most hate Bryz or are just blaming him, I think they just want him to play like a top 10 NHL goalie which he should be and he is being paid to do so.

I agree with your comments on the breakdowns and it is far from always the goalies fault, I just think people want to see some really good goaltending.
- Buts16

I don't think any comments more accurately encapsulate most flyer fans sentiments regarding bryz than this

I haven't been saying it about Flyers goalies for 20 years. The goaltending is not the reason for the Flyers Cup drought, as much as the media would like it to be.
- Jsaquella

When it is the most important position on the team, in the sport, to point to that position as a reason is valid.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120122/SPORTS04/301220036/Won-t-easy-replacing-Carle-he-leaves?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Flyers

Actually a good read on Carle and his importance.