That save on Letang was one of the best I have ever seen. A highlight of this playoff run, but of course no one will remember that..only the game 5 gaffe.

I just think people who don't watch the game closely, or play the position, really have a solid idea. I don't obviously play pro, but I have played for 26 years since I was little. The position is 90% mental and about your confidence. I couldn't imagine the fishbowl he felt like he was in. I think sometimes if it was me, I would almost want to pull a Bob Esche and not talk to anyone. You have to be so focused (especially I imagine at that level) to play your best. You can nver get too high or too low. You have to also have a VERY short memory. All these things would be hard if someone was always in your face saying.. you're great! You suck or discussing a bad goal over and over.
- Hextall271

How many point blank chances did he stop on Bernier? There was one game where Bernier had about five whacks alone in the crease against Bryz and he shut him down.

Also Henrique had about three breakaways that Bryz stopped at key moments at the time.

yes. they NEED a defenseman with a shot next year. Whether its Meszaros or someone else, it's a priority, imo
- Crimsoninja

How bout we trade for someone like Kubi-



Nevermind...

Since Esche's great year in 04 (guy had like a 2.04 Gaa) only goalie to put up better numbers than Bryz when playing more than 30 games is Bouch but bouch only played half the games Bryz did and he had a healthy Pronger in front of him most of the season. I really think the haters are just bashing him because it's like a self given pass to make themselves feel better about their team losing, if that makes sense. Like "Oh we coulda won but our goalie sucked so bad" meanwhile the guy actually kept them in the game and there were other aspects really causing a problem.
Oh and the talk about his salary, well aren't there other players on this team that are paid handsomely? What's their excuse, because if it was injury, I got news, Bryzgalov battled with injury too this playoffs.
- JoeRussomanno

Indeed. Chekmanic had some good numbers. Talk about headcase figuratively and literally. This team really is just a tinker away from being really really awesome. If they LTIR Pronger and the cap goes up, it leaves them little over 11 mill i think. You could definitely sign Vorachek and stud dman and a backup goalie with the idea of trading Bob. Maybe even a Dennis Wildman or a 2nd teir guy to replace Carle.

Going along with this, I just want to say that, being a hockey player myself, I get so frustrated with the fans bashing Bryz for not making the saves in the midst of blown coverages/terrible D. I say this because I can recognize this kind of stuff even as it develops during the game, live.

I just can't stand that. It makes want to hit someone
- Giroux_Is_God

Yeah, I can notice when breakdowns happen or when a dangerous play happens. I have seen them hundreds of times and recognize the plays as they develop in my games. It's not always the tenders fault.. sometimes it is but not always.

I don't so much hate the Rangers as a team. There are a lot of players on the team that I admire, starting with their captain, several defensemen, a couple of particularly likeable ex-Flyers (Fedotenko and Biron), and Lundqvist.

However, I personally dislike their coach and their GM. Tortorella is a bully of a coach. Overall, I think he's a good coach -- very good with Xs and Os and getting favorable matchups. But his hubris gets in the way sometimes. He is so convinced of his own genius that he's actually gotten in the way of his own team's success more than once both in Tampa and New York.

Sather is still living off the reputation of building 1980s Edmonton dynasty an has made more bad than good decisions in the last quarter century. I find Slats' insufferable much of the time.

I also dislike the misplaced haughtiness of a large percentage of the fan base. This is a team that has one Stanley Cup since 1940, is 18 years removed from the last one and still has yet -- although they still very well may do so after Game 7 -- to advance past the second round since 1997.

Finally, I think the New York media (as well as Canadian) were the ones who created and still perpetuate the image of the Flyers' team as a goon squad . They also love to play up the boorishness of Philadelphia fans, when there is equal percentage of idiots -- and a larger number because of the sheer size of their metro area -- in New York.

So there you have it. I respect the Rangers as a team but I can never root for them under any circumstances.



- bmeltzer

18 years since the last one. Bill, thanks for making me feel old.

I don't dislike the Rangers or Devils as much as I used to. Not a lot of villians on those teams. Penguins...well, different story.

How many point blank chances did he stop on Bernier? There was one game where Bernier had about five whacks alone in the crease against Bryz and he shut him down.

Also Henrique had about three breakaways that Bryz stopped at key moments at the time.
- Marc D

Remember that save when he reached back and took the puck off the line?

There was a sequence in game 3 where he made the stone wall, sit on your butt then corral the puck between your legs save TWICE.

He was really something else. It's a shame it was overshadowed by pathetic play in front of him

How many point blank chances did he stop on Bernier? There was one game where Bernier had about five whacks alone in the crease against Bryz and he shut him down.

Also Henrique had about three breakaways that Bryz stopped at key moments at the time.
- Marc D

Team played poorly... Simple as that.. not all on Bryz. His track record and work eithic tells me he'll be back and more focused/adjusted to this hockey environment. We also forget we lost Pronger and replaced him with a hurt Kubina who didn't play. get him some more help on D and see him shine.

I think they need a guy who is a threat from the blue line AND has a right handed shot.

Grossmann gives them the size and crease clearing D man they were missing.

Coburn is a little bit of both a puck mover and defender, but doesn't reliably get his shot through.

Carle and Kimmo can both move the puck and are good set up guys. Getting pucks to the net, well they both leave something to be desired.

They miss the Pronger one timer blast.

Mez has a little of that in his game.

If it comes to getting another defenseman, do you want a defense first player or a guy with a good shot who could play point on the PP?
- Marc D

They definitely need a guy who can put the puck on net with more regularity. That would be my first priority.

Another thing that, in my opinion is completely overlooked (or maybe ignored) about Bryz is the man's work ethic.

During the All Star Break, he and Reese worked and worked and worked to get better. Lost in all of his personality and quirkiness is his drive as a competitor.


And guess what? He'll probably work and work and work during the offseason, barring any surgeries/injuries that he needs to rest.

We will see March Bryz more often than not next year. I'm sure of it

Team played poorly... Simple as that.. not all on Bryz. His track record and work eithic tells me he'll be back and more focused/adjusted to this hockey environment. We also forget we lost Pronger and replaced him with a hurt Kubina who didn't play. get him some more help on D and see him shine.
- Hextall271

If the Flyers resign Carle they are basically coming back with the same core of defenseman. I don't see how they get any better bc we have seen it for sometime now. Their inconsistency is a problem an their style of play is questioned when they play a team with pressure an who's defensive minded.

If the Flyers resign Carle they are basically coming back with the same core of defenseman. I don't see how they get any better bc we have seen it for sometime now. Their inconsistency is a problem an their style of play is questioned when they play a team with pressure an who's defensive minded.
- stveshdy

Not necessarily true. If they get Carle cheaper than originally thought, they could still add a stud if they don't sign anyone else except V.

If the Flyers resign Carle they are basically coming back with the same core of defenseman. I don't see how they get any better bc we have seen it for sometime now. Their inconsistency is a problem an their style of play is questioned when they play a team with pressure an who's defensive minded.
- stveshdy

Even if they re-sign Carle, they could trade a forward for defense and have a rela nice top six.

Not necessarily true. If they get Carle cheaper than originally thought, they could still add a stud if they don't sign anyone else except V.
- Deasr1

Plus we have a healthy Mez and a healthy Grossmann for 82 games

Even if they re-sign Carle, they could trade a forward for defense and have a rela nice top six.
- Jsaquella

They also could potentially have an additional $3-4 million in cap space if the bonus cushion is back in play next season -- lowering the cap hits of Schenn, Bobrovsky and Couturier.

Even if they re-sign Carle, they could trade a forward for defense and have a rela nice top six.
- Jsaquella

A couple of options available to Homer for sure, but I can't see him not making a move if Pronger is done. The D needs help.

Even if they re-sign Carle, they could trade a forward for defense and have a rela nice top six.
- Jsaquella

I agree just stating it would almost be the same core of players on defense. I'm hoping they do sign Carle and add another good defenseman. I'm just saying this is a group that has had its problems at times as well.

I agree just stating it would almost be the same core of players on defense. I'm hoping they do sign Carle and add another good defenseman. I'm just saying this is a group that has had its problems at times as well.
- stveshdy

It has had it's problems, but overall, it's a capable group. A lot of their issues on defense comes from bad team defense, which is on the forwards as well as the defensemen.

It has had it's problems, but overall, it's a capable group. A lot of their issues on defense comes from bad team defense, which is on the forwards as well as the defensemen.
- Jsaquella

I agree. Just stating that they can have problems and can be inconsistent at times. Overall it's a decent group but I would like to add a threat at the point.

I agree just stating it would almost be the same core of players on defense. I'm hoping they do sign Carle and add another good defenseman. I'm just saying this is a group that has had its problems at times as well.
- stveshdy

A shot from the point is needed.
But having a healthy Mez and healthy Grossmann also would have made a difference.

Bryz "wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy" quote everywhere now. Makes me sick that that the Philly bashers have more ammo now, thanks alot buddy. Not blaming bryz for playoffs, but the melodrama he creates is annoying. The flyers have their McNabb - hears the 5% that say he sucks, ignores the 95% that want him to succeed.

The comments from his phx teammates prob pretty accurate IMO.

Bryz "wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy" quote everywhere now. Makes me sick that that the Philly bashers have more ammo now, thanks alot buddy. Not blaming bryz for playoffs, but the melodrama he creates is annoying. The flyers have their McNabb - hears the 5% that say he sucks, ignores the 95% that want him to succeed.

The comments from his phx teammates prob pretty accurate IMO.
- ukeman

You'v not only misinterpreted what Bryzgalov has said, but also the party guilty of creating melodrama.

I agree just stating it would almost be the same core of players on defense. I'm hoping they do sign Carle and add another good defenseman. I'm just saying this is a group that has had its problems at times as well.
- stveshdy

Every D group has had its problems. But from 1-6, I'd still take this D over most teams'.

Coburn looked very comfortable and played at a high level once paired with Grossmann. I'd like to believe his play will finally evolve to where we all hoped it would be.

Timo will be playing less minutes. More gas in the tank at the end of the year.

With Metz, Carle, and either MAB, Gus, perhaps Manning. or even a trade/FA coming in, this group would round out nicely.

Living outside of Philly has its advantages, its easier to ignore the WIP/Philly.com/media know it alls who don't really get the Flyers.

Bryz "wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy" quote everywhere now. Makes me sick that that the Philly bashers have more ammo now, thanks alot buddy. Not blaming bryz for playoffs, but the melodrama he creates is annoying. The flyers have their McNabb - hears the 5% that say he sucks, ignores the 95% that want him to succeed.

The comments from his phx teammates prob pretty accurate IMO.
- ukeman

Bryzgalov doesn't create the melodrama, the media creates it when they don;t accurately report what he said.

TSN.ca and SI.com both have articles that are headlined with Bryz ripping fans. He actually said "You should understand that I am not speaking out against the fans. Philadelphia has great fans. They are the majority. They are always with the team in difficult times."

So, who is creating that drama? The guy who said he's not ripping the fans, or the media that leaves that quote out of it's stories and says he's ripping the fans?

You'v not only misinterpreted what Bryzgalov has said, but also the party guilty of creating melodrama.
- BulliesPhan87

no way. He said what he did to create drama, I think he loves every second of it. Now he gets to play the martyr. Same as old #5.