SAN JOSE, Calif.If ever a goalie needed a victory, needed a couple of saves late in a game, and needed to stone some of the leagues better scorers during a shootout, its Ilya Bryzgalov.
In what both Flyers coach Peter Laviolette and goalie guru Jeff Reese are hoping was a turning point for the beleaguered Russian netminder, Bryzgalov literally turned a sour start into a sweet victory late Saturday night in Calgary, enabling the Flyers to extinguish the Flames, 5-4 in a shootout.
Forget that Bryz had just 17 saves in regulation as the Flyers crawled out from a 3-0 hole.
Its the four saves he made during the shootout that count the most, mentally and moving forward during this stretch run to the playoffs.
He battled through it and was able to put it behind him, Reese said. He made some big saves and was great for us in the shootout. That is going to be a big confidence booster for him.
In the shootout, Bryzgalov denied Olli Jokinen, Alex Tanguaywho had beaten him earlier on a penalty shotJarome Iginla, and finally, Curtis Glencross, whose shot went off Bryzs shoulder, ending the game.
Its huge, just huge, Max Talbot gushed. Its not like they were easy shootout attempts. He definitely made huge saves.
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Bryzgalov, who refused to speak to any medialocal or nationalfor the second, straight game, hurried walked past reporters as Talbot spoke.
Im talking about you BryzIm pumping your tires, Talbot shouted at him. This is great for the whole team. Another come-from-behind win and its great for Bryzs confidence because we all know hes a great goalie. Weve seen that. That was a big one for us.
The game began on an awful note as Mark Giordano scored off a dink shot from the point, then Matt Stajan had an uncontested shot from the slot that registered just 61 mph, according to the CBCs radar gun.
Two goals on two attempts, in less than six minutes. Laviolette burned his timeout right then to settle everyone down, even Bryzgalov, who was so angry, he destroyed his brand new black stick over the crossbar.
Good teams know how to come back and fight adversity, said rookie Matt Read, who got the shootout game-winner against Miikka Kiprusoff.
After that first period, coming in here, we talked about hard work and doing little things rightI thought it was a great, solid effort, a good win and solid comeback.
As the game progressed, Bryzgalov had four very tough saves through screens that gave the Flyers a chance, even after the officials gave Tanguays totally-uncalled for penalty shot because Pavel Kubina touched him from behind on a breakaway.
Bryz got better and stronger and made some saves for us, Laviolette said. In the shootout, he kept us in there and gave us an opportunity. It was a pretty good team win.
Reese liked that Bryzgalov overcame the first period and settled in.
The first goal was a knuckler and the second, the guy teed it up from the slot, Reese said.
Say anything to him between periods?
I didnt say anything, Reese replied. I usually leave him alone. Very seldom do I wander in there. Unless its something to do with some kind of play that were looking for.
The only Flame to score on Bryzgalov in the shootout was Mike Cammalleri.
Bryz played great in net, defenseman Nicklas Grossman said.
The Flyers are now 2-5 this season in shootouts while Bryz is now 1-4. Prior to Saturday, Bryzgalov had just three shootout saves all season. In earlier games, he would bury himself in the net. Against Winnipeg in late January, Bryz began to exercise patience, holding his ground, even challenging, instead of retreating.
Which is what he did here, even when Iginla tried to change up speeds on him.
If you look at Iginla, he came in really slow, tried to make 17 moves and Bryzgalov just waited, waited, waited, Reese said. Thats what you have to do as a goaltender. You have to be very patient and wait for the shooter to move.
Bryzgalov has said many times this season he really dislikes shootouts because they leave the goalie too much time to think. He also said the Flyers should practice shootout attempts more, which Laviolette has been doing during the second half of the season.
Im happy for him, Reese said.
So are his teammates.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net