Sunday, April 24, 2011
Posted: 8:18 p.m.
By Bob MatuszakCSNPhilly.com Contributor
BUFFALO, N.Y.The music has finally stopped on the Flyers musical goalie chairs, and Brian Boucher is the last one sitting.
From Sergei Bobrovsky to Boucher to Michael Leighton to Boucher once again, the Flyers carousel in the crease has been as much the story of this up-and-down Eastern Conference quarterfinal series as the teams penchant for erasing seemingly insurmountable leads the last two games. But after Leighton was lit up for three goals on eight shots in the first period of the Flyers dramatic overtime win Sunday against the Sabres, Boucher came in, steadied the ship, and earned the start for Tuesdays winner-take-all Game 7.
Its the playoffs, and you think about your teammates needing you, said Boucher, who slammed the door on the Sabres by allowing just a goal on 25 shots over the final two periods of regulation and nearly five minutes of overtime after Fridays Game 5 meltdown where he surrendered three goals in 15 minutes of work. Were all in this together, and thats what kept me motivated.
Bouchers only flaw in Game 6 was Nathan Gerbes third-period goal that gave the Sabres a 4-3 lead, but the shot went off defenseman Sean ODonnells stick in the high slot.
Leighton had a couple of bad bounces on him, defenseman Andrej Meszaros said. It happens. Sometimes you cant catch a break. But we never quit and kept going.
Boucher was told by coach Peter Laviolette that he was going in to play early during the first period intermission, and wasnt worried about making any miscues in a game that the Sabres had already built a two-goal bulge in.
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When I go in Im not thinking about the consequences, he said. Im just going in to give it my all.
Following the game, Laviolette paused slightly before declaring Boucher as the Game 7 starter.
I cant say enough about him, Laviolette said. Brian expects to start, and I respect that about him. He had an opportunity tonight to come in and help this team live for another day, and he was tremendous.
Laviolettes three-headed goalie monster this series is the first time in Flyers history that the team has used a trio of netminders in one playoff series, but Boucher is used to the juggling.
Isnt it always bizarre in Philadelphia with goaltenders? Boucher said. I mean, its nothing new. Im pretty used to it. I know when I came back here I knew what I was getting myself into, so you just roll with the punches and deal with it.
Despite the revolving door in the crease this series, one thing is for surethe Flyers dont change their style when a new mask appears between the pipes behind them. Philadelphias ferocious forecheck gave the Sabres fits Sunday, especially in the second period when they rallied to tie the game on Danny Brieres power-play goal 8:43 in.
It doesnt matter whether its Bob, Boosh or Leights, Meszaros said. Its the playoffs.
Brian brought us a sense of calmness when he came in, winger Kris Versteeg said. Thats what we needed. Being down so quickly I think sometimes your emotions can get the best of you. We knew that we had a team that can score goals, we just had to stick to the plan.
Briere, who has been simply terrific this series against his former team, isnt surprised that his current club has put the in-and-out goalie situation on the back-burner.
You cant control that, he said If you try and understand and figure out whats going on, youre wasting energy. For us, were just trying to focus on what we can control. Goalies are like a quarterback in footballthey get the accolades but when things arent going well they get the blame.
Boucher got plenty of blame after being pulled in the first period of Game 5, and was happy to get a second chance two days later.
From a personal standpoint, yeah, it feels good to have gotten back in there and make the wrong right, he said.
If the Flyers want to advance, theyll need more of the right and less of the wrong from Boucher.
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