Flyers have faith in Bobrovsky
Laviolette confirms Bobrovsky starts Game 1
Sunday, 04.10.2011 / 8:30 PM
/ News
By Adam Kimelman
- NHL.com
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Islanders 7-4 at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday in their regular-season finale to win their first division title since the 2003-04 season.
That last division title also came in Game 82, after a game against the Islanders.
Their goalie that day was Robert Esche, who allowed three goals on 26 shots in what ended as a 3-3 tie. Esche had been named the playoff starter by then-coach Ken Hitchcock, but was going into his first postseason as a starting goalie on a four-game winless skid.
A similar situation is playing out this season, as Sergei Bobrovsky will enter his first Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Game 1 starter, but in his final regular-season game he allowed three goals on 10 shots and was pulled 12:05 into Saturday's game. Bobrovsky will enter the postseason without a win in five games.
"What Leighton did last year in the playoffs for us, we believe we have three guys who can get the job done no matter what happens," said Danny Briere.
"I think there's a confidence and a belief in our team in our goaltenders," said coach Peter Laviolette. "We've said that all year long."
And Laviolette is sticking to his announcement last week that Bobrovsky would be his Game 1 starter when the first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres starts.
"I stated my intentions a week ago and from this point on you won't get anything out of me," said Laviolette.
That last division title also came in Game 82, after a game against the Islanders.
Their goalie that day was Robert Esche, who allowed three goals on 26 shots in what ended as a 3-3 tie. Esche had been named the playoff starter by then-coach Ken Hitchcock, but was going into his first postseason as a starting goalie on a four-game winless skid.
A similar situation is playing out this season, as Sergei Bobrovsky will enter his first Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Game 1 starter, but in his final regular-season game he allowed three goals on 10 shots and was pulled 12:05 into Saturday's game. Bobrovsky will enter the postseason without a win in five games.
"What Leighton did last year in the playoffs for us, we believe we have three guys who can get the job done no matter what happens," said Danny Briere.
"I think there's a confidence and a belief in our team in our goaltenders," said coach Peter Laviolette. "We've said that all year long."
And Laviolette is sticking to his announcement last week that Bobrovsky would be his Game 1 starter when the first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres starts.
"I stated my intentions a week ago and from this point on you won't get anything out of me," said Laviolette.
