In 2010, a seemingly unimpressive goalie tandem of Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton carried the Flyers further than could have been imagined, all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
Two months into 2012, a duo that should be the backbone of a team with championship hopes seems to be doing little more than falling far, far short of even the most modest of expectations.
Saturday afternoons 6-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins (see story) was the Flyers 58th game of the season, their 29th on home ice. At this point, writing about the struggles of Ilya Bryzgalovand sometimes Sergei Bobrovsky, toois starting to get as old for those of us around the team as it is for you at home to read about it.
But Bryzgalov, who was yanked from the game after surrendering three goals on 13 shots, thinks fans who question the Flyers netminders have their outlook on the game all wrong.
Its an easy life when you can blame the one guy, he said. Its a bad goal. Its the goalies mistake. Its easy to find a scapegoat when you point to one guy and say, Were always losing because we have a bad goalie. But I think its the wrong philosophy.
I know I was frustrated with my game today and I know Ive got to be better. I will continue to work on this, but Im just trying to find peace in my soul to play in this city.
Bryzgalov is not the sole reason for the Flyers struggles. Far from it, in fact. The team continues to cough up pucks a bit too easily, to get sloppy with passes and to allow the opposition to crash too hard in on their net. Even with the addition of big defenseman Nick Grossman, there are still obvious holes on the blue line.
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No, the loss to the Penguins isnt completely Bryzgalovs fault. But the Flyers 51-million goaltender appeared to simply give up any hope of defending his net before either Matt Cooke or Jordan Staal took a shot Saturday afternoon. The final two goals he allowedboth shorthanded, the second occurring on a 5-on-3all but dictated the outcome of the game.
Its harsh, but he almost looked as if he werent trying. And Bryzgalov was at a loss for words when asked to explain what happened.
Its tough to say, he said. It was a strange game. I cant say exactly what was the reason. So many things in my head.
Bobrovsky, who came in to relieve Bryzgalov after Cookes 5-on-3 goal in the second period, was hardly any better. Bob stopped 14 of 17 shots, and looked about as shaky as the goalie that preceded him.
With 24 games left before the postseason begins, the Flyers need to get their goaltending in order. Unfortunately for them, every time it seems that Bryzgalov (and sometimes Bob) gets his act together, it lasts only a few games before falling off a cliff yet again.
That's been especially apparent recently; in their last eight games, the Flyers are 2-5-1. In six of those games, the goaltender has allowed three or more goals.
Even coach Peter Laviolette, who hardly ever calls out specific players or units, came across as frustrated when addressing the media Saturdaywith the overall outcome of the game as well as with the two men charged with guarding the Flyers net.
I think that we can be better in a lot of different areas, and goaltending certainly is one of them, he said, after fumbling with his words a bit.
To their credit, Bryzgalovs teammates did call attention to missed opportunities on offense, as well as a few passes gone awry. Hockey is a team sport, after all.
When asked about the performance of both of the teams goaliesSaturday afternoon and in generalClaude Giroux simply gave the company line:
I think when we win, you guys like to give the credit to the players, Giroux said. And when we lose, you like to give the credit to the goalies. Were behind our two goalies. We have confidence in them. Bad goals are going to happen, but theyre two good goalies and we know we have to be better in front of them.
Would-be GMs posting on Twitter and blog sites are fantasizing about what it might take for the Flyers to acquire Blue Jackets sniper Rick Nash at the trade deadline. But as this loss proves yet again, the Flyers have far bigger problems than finding the backs of opponents nets.
The Flyers wont play again until Tuesday in Winnipeg. Thats more than two days for frustrated fans to contemplate another goalie controversy and simmer.
Until then, perhaps its best to take a bit of advice from Bryzgalov himself:
Its nice to have short memory, he said.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com