Winter Classic 2012: Bob.
by Travis Hughes on Jan 1, 2012 2:15 PM EST
in Philadelphia Flyers Commentary
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PrintPeter Laviolette has always had the tendency to ride the hot hand, and when Sergei Bobrovsky beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, there was literally zero doubt in my mind that he should start the Winter Classic. He's the better goalie right now, and it's an enormous hockey game -- both in terms of scale and hype, and obviously in the standings.
The Flyers need to beat the New York Rangers tomorrow. It's the biggest game of the year. And that's nothing to do with the fact that it's being played outside on a baseball field.
So when the news leaked out this morning that Bobrovsky would be starting tomorrow instead of the I'm-playing-awful-right-now Ilya Bryzgalov, it wasn't really all that surprising. It completely falls under the M.O. of the head coach, and it makes complete sense.
And to be honest, I don't know how much of a message it really is. A lot of people are talking about what this means for the rest of the season and blah blah blah. But just as Bobrovsky has played well and has taken control of an opportunity, Bryzgalov will probably do exactly the same at some point over the next three and a half months.
If that's a goalie controversy or whatever, fine. Then we have a goalie controversy on our hands. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, it shows that the coach is going to start whichever goalie gives the team the best chance to win. It can develop into a problem come playoff time, as we learned last year, but in the midst of the regular season, simply letting the better goalie play is not a bad thing in the slightest bit.
And right now, tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park, that goalie is Sergei Bobrovsky.
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This is such good news.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it.
by Jody_Shelley's_Frankenstein on Jan 1, 2012 2:49 PM EST reply actions
Stat Nerd Bat Symbol
I mean that in the most loving way possible.
Do any of you have Bryz’s and Bobs’ wins and save point averages against the Rangers, and could we please compare them? I know for certain that in this season Bryz has not won a game against them. (couldn’t exactly be small sample size, as Bobs has only played in the Atlantic conference his whole career, and Bryz has been Pacific conference a majority of his career. Even though Bryz has been playing longer, he has probably faced the Rangers about, or less than, as much as Bobs. I think.)
Following Dan Carcillo where ever he may go
Read, Rinaldo and Sestito Flyercrushes until his return
Do I need to make another Bat-signal picture?
Madly in love with Jaromir Jagr's brilliant smile and epic goal salute.
Matt Read for Calder!
Jeff Skinner, at 6 years old, is the youngest player in the NHL.
Ian Laperriere (EE-an luh-PAIR-ee-YAIR), proper noun. Definition: Bad-assery on skates
by Chemistry66 on Jan 1, 2012 3:17 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Bobs was 1-0-1 against the Rangers last season with a 2.28GAA, and he lost the first game against the Rangers this season allowing 2 on 32 shots. Not sure about Bryz’s stats against the, before this season though. He allowed 4 goals on 24 shots last week. Hope this helps.
Can't believe no one mentioned this quote
“I have great news and even better news,” Bryzgalov said. “Great news: I’m not playing tomorrow night. Good news: We have a chance to win the game.”
It's in his wheelhouse!!
Carlos Ruiz, My Nickname is Chooch.
by Dr. Steve on Jan 1, 2012 3:27 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
That quote is classic. And, equally problematic for a head coach.
by flyerboom_6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lavy
Didn’t seem to happy that Bryz told the reporters he wasn’t starting. But I don’t know the context of the qoute to accurately assume that.
-bob
by Rrainone on Jan 1, 2012 3:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions
The message: Bob has played better, Bob deserves to keep playing. Period.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Fits with what Lavy told the team at intermission on 24/7: if you don’t play well, you won’t like your ice time.
by mtitanic on Jan 1, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Bryz's plans for Monday:
"Make sure I not forget in the morning my thermos, put some nice tea [in it] and enjoy the bench."
by phillies0100 on Jan 1, 2012 3:44 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I’d disagree. I think that he doesn’t care. He’s his own critic, his own harshest critic IMO
"Start playing with some jam in here"
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jan 1, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
The NHL, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, announced Monday’s 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will start at 3 p.m. ET (NBC, CBC, RDS). The revised start time is based on tomorrow’s weather forecast and should offer optimal game conditions for players and fans.
This station is non-operational
IT'S TEBOW TIME!
On the twitterverse
Good. Penn State’s game will be close to over by then.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Let’s make this a truly Happy New Year and slap the Rangers.
"Fly Eagles fly..."
"Only the Lord saves more than Bernie..."
by 92-74-99-96 on Jan 1, 2012 5:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I don’t think it is far fetched to say bryz’s poor play recently could be somewhat attributed to the hbo cameras. Hopefully once this game is over he will play better and be more focused going forward. We shall see.
by PhilsForever on Jan 1, 2012 5:32 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Soooooooooo this whole Bryz telling the media before Lavvy wanted him to thing is going to go over real well, isn’t it?
The solar system is so humongous big.
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Jan 1, 2012 6:25 PM EST reply actions
I want to see what 24/7 gives us on this situation.
by flyerboom_6 on Jan 1, 2012 6:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Bryz hasn’t taken this well. I’m pretty disappointed at him going to the media before talking to the coach about it. He says he heard from Jeff Reese and hasn’t spoken to Lavy about it yet; Lavy says he’s going to talk to him after dealing wtih the media.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jan 1, 2012 8:03 PM EST reply actions
I think Bryz doesn’t really care. He’s his own harshest critic. He knows he’s not playing well
"Start playing with some jam in here"
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Jan 1, 2012 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, understandably he’s upset, but christ keep your effing mouth shut. It’s the same reason I didn’t go for the fall on the sword for the team bit. It was well intentioned but ultimately it’s self -serving if you live by idea of winning as a team and losing as a team which I do. Logically, it has to go both ways. It’s one thing to say you performed poorly and quite another to take on the loss. If you don’t throw your teammates under the bus for the loss then it follows you don’t throw yourself under the bus for the loss, otherwise your not a teammate or rather behaving like a teammate.
Yeah. I can’t help but think if it was Bob who had been benched for the Classic he would’ve taken it more maturely in spite of being almost a decade younger. Everything Bob has ever said has been calm, level-headed and mature.
It really is depressing to think that our goalie of the future will need to be traded at some point. My only hope is for cap-free buyouts in the new CBA being used on Bryz so that we can stick with Bob for the future.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jan 1, 2012 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah that too. I’m generally a Bryz defender, but there are no excuses for the way he’s handled this. It’s not good for Laviolette to have to deal with this; it’s not good for Bob to have to deal with this; it’s not good for the team to have to deal with this. Bryz needs to shut the hell up.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jan 1, 2012 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
Everything Bob has ever said has been calm, level-headed and mature.
Bob has ever said anything?
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Jan 1, 2012 9:35 PM EST up reply actions
The stuff Teemu brings us haha
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jan 1, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
will need to be traded at some point.
Not according to his NMC, unless he agrees or Homer goes Godfather again.
My only hope is for cap-free buyouts
This would work.
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
With the ‘traded at some point’ – I was talking about Bob not Bryz.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jan 2, 2012 1:16 AM EST up reply actions
But he doesn’t go to practice
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Jan 1, 2012 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
Well at least for now, it’s a whole lotta of “quirky goalie” shit coming from the media. That’s kinda harmless.
Wide receivers, goalies, baseball “closers”, opera sopranos
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
Honestly, I might hate Bryz more then Shelley on this team. I really, REALLY hope that the pressue gets to him, and he demands a trade or goes back to Russia just for the teams sake.
"I'm terrible" - Ilya Bryzgalov
And it's a woah oh oh oh oh. I said woah, woah, oh.
That ’s some kinda hate.
The Bryzfits
by j reed on Jan 1, 2012 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This was simple
Two step process:
1. Determine who you think Torts wants to see in goal
2. Go with the other
I think Lavy wants 2 points.
Go BOBS! You deserve this start. Couldn’t happen to a nicer fella!
If Brzy doesn't do right by Bob I'll kick his $51 million ass across the WFC.
And yes, I'm a female redhead.
Meanwhile, one of the fine gentlemen over at Blueshirt Banter has declared our starting goalie for tomorrow—he of career .924 and 2.22 GAA against these Rangers—as “swiss cheese”.
Silly Rangers fans.
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Jan 1, 2012 10:36 PM EST reply actions
wow i have half a mind to respond, however what can you expect from fans of a team who for the past decade or so have been where good players go to die
Beets,Bears,Battlestar Galactica.
MICHAEL!
Political Correctness - the belief that one can pick up a turd by the clean end.
To be fair, I lurk over there a lot and a good number of their commenters are pretty sensible, and he’s one of the few who says a lot—a lot—of dumb stuff.
Still, not gonna let it go unnoticed.
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Jan 1, 2012 11:24 PM EST up reply actions
Bobrovsky is 1-1-1 with a .924 SV% and 2.22 GAA against New York. Lundqvist is 18-10-3 against Philadelphia, with a .909 SV% and 2.64 GAA. The win percentage is nice, but that’s a sign of his playing during the years where we actually had miserable goaltending; his individual stats aren’t as good as Bob’s. If Bobrovsky is Swiss cheese, Lundqvist is whipped cream that gets blown away by Flyers’ shooters.
Bob.
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