Leighton Will Start Against Boston Tonight

Because why not go with the goalie who's played like crap for four games?

almost 2 years ago MarioD 9 comments 0 recs |

Comments

I’ve had a gut feeling that somehow Boucher was going to steal away the starting job before the end of the year but I guess I was wrong about that. It’s almost like the Flyers are afraid to start Boosh because it could lead to a goalie controversy if he plays well.

by wertdog on Mar 11, 2010 8:38 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, why go with a goalie that’s 3-1-1 since the break with a sv% of .921. Take away that Florida game and it’s a .936 sv%. I mean that’s just horrible goaltending. Twist it however you want Mario cause I know you will, but he’s played well enough to give the Flyers a chance to win every night except for the Florida game. You want to take the “needing rest” platform then I really can’t argue against you, but to say he’s been playing like crap is rediculous.

by Pondhockey on Mar 11, 2010 10:02 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, it’s always statistically sound to talk about a guy by ignoring all his bad performances. "Leighton has been great, just ignore his time in Carolina this year, and ignore that game when he got chased by third lowest scoring team in the conference, and ignore his awful rebound control which is the reason he faces so many shots… and he’s been great!

by MarioD on Mar 11, 2010 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry, didn’t realize these guys had to be robots that never have a bad game. Even still his numbers are real good. Any numbers he posted with Carolina are irrelevent, seeing as he wasn’t a starter there and being that he’s been consistently good since leaving there. Also the fact Carolina is terrible and now that he has a good team in front of him has put up above average stats. Plus, I believe you were the one that just mentioned the last 4 games and that’s what I was responding to. And even if you add the Florida game, he’s still 3-1-1 with a .921 sv%. Is that really not a good save percentage? And I don’t care how he’s winning games, don’t care if he’s purposely kicking pucks right on to the sticks of opponents. Fact is he’s 15-5-1 with the Flyers and a .924 sv%. That save percentage puts him in a tie for 5th in the league. What more do you want from him?

by Pondhockey on Mar 11, 2010 11:14 AM EST up reply actions

To shutout Washington in a back to back while not wearing a mask, using a baseball glove on his catching hand and a frying pan as a goal stick. Anything less is unacceptable.

by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Mar 11, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Wait… he hasn’t??? Forget what I said, let’s tie him to a tree out back and shoot him. Who’s coming with me?

by Pondhockey on Mar 11, 2010 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

From today's Inquirer:

Laviolette reiterated that goalie coach Jeff Reese has played a major role in the development of Leighton, who is 15-3-2 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .924 save percentage since being claimed off reentry waivers from Carolina.

You and I talked before about the likeliness of Leighton just never having found the right goalie coach before. On paper, it is very unlikely that this is the case, but it would not be unheard of. I know I’ve said it a lot before, but Bernie Parent didn’t become Bernie Parent until after several years in the pros because he had an opportunity to learn from Jacques Plante. And not to keep bringing myself into the equation, but I studied classical piano for 6-7 years with various teachers before I finally found the right one. (Obviously playing classical piano is not goaltending, but both require emphases on technique, positioning, posture, and attention to detail.)

I want to see Boucher in the net sooner than later (I’d imagine “sooner” = Sunday against the Rangers) but I’m sure Laviolette is trying to get Leighton back up to speed since he’ll start in the playoffs (assuming we get there). So, like him or not, he needs to get back into a rhythm following the break.

Apropos of nothing else, I’m not sure if you mentioned this in one of your salary cap articles, but apparently Mike Rathje’s contract does not allow the Flyers to take on a pro-rated salary? I guess the NHL allows for teams with LTIs to go “above” the cap, so to speak, but at the expense of flexibility. That was probably reason 1,234,567 why we made no deadline deals.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Mar 11, 2010 11:42 AM EST reply actions

To bring myself into the equation,

I was an average goalie in my league, until I got new TPS R10 pad set up and Vaughn mask. Last year I lead the league in SV% while facing the most shots and having a team that generally scored 2-3 goals a game.

I put it all down to Leightons gear. FOR SERIAL

"NZFlyerfan"

by ToddtheFox on Mar 11, 2010 6:01 PM EST up reply actions