This time, the fans werent mocking Ilya Bryzgalov.This time, when they chanted Bryz, Bryz it was with adorationnot spite.Two shutouts in the same week can change opinions in a hurry, no?I was so concentrated I didnt hear it, but if they cheered for me its very nice and very kind for them, Bryzgalov said.From hating to love in one step, in another direction.Bryzgalov notched his fourth shutout of the season with Thursdays 5-0 win over Florida (see story). He has a 1.25 goals against average and a .960 save percentage during the Flyers current four-game winning streak.
This was his 10th straight start where he is 7-2 with a no-decision, plus a 2.17 GAA and .921 save percentage.Hes the first Flyer goalie to get two shutouts in the same week since Marty Biron at the very end of the 2007-08 season.Congratulations, Bryz said, not realizing he was congratulating himself.The Flyers played determined defense in front of him, blocking 18 shots.Were missing guys, but we have some guys called up, Bryzgalov said. Brandon Manning released by the Colts and he played tonight here.Bryz paused and winked. That was a joke, but it went over the medias head because he said it so fast. He continued to mix football references with hockey, too.Manning stepped up and played very good. Gus Erik Gustafsson and Andreas LiljaI cant say enough about the defensive line and offensive line helping in the defensive zone. Its a great team effort.Relief arrivesSince defenseman Brandon Manning was called up under emergency conditions, he didnt count against the four-man regular call-up limit after the trade deadline. The Flyers still have two call-ups remaining for the regular season. There is no limit on emergency call-ups.Loose pucksJody Shelley, who had been a healthy scratch for the past five games, played in Jakub Voraceks absence. Shelley was the fourth line with Eric Wellwood and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr played a reduced role because he has an ailing hip.Shelley and Krystofer Barch had a rock em, sock em fight right after Matt Reads goal in the second period with Shelley getting the decision. That was just his fifth fight of the season. Then again, Shelley has only played 24 games. ... Zac Rinaldo dropped gloves in the third with Erik Gudbranson. Rinaldo leads the Flyers with 14 fights. ... The Flyers got three of their five goals from rookies. They now have 49 goals scored by rookies this season, which is 22.7 percent of the teams total of 216. ... Claude Giroux recorded his 23rd multi-point game of the season. He has 55 assists on the season, jumping him two past Henrik Sedin for the league lead (pending the end of Vancouvers game against Winnipeg).
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.