Hurricanes at Flyers
THE STORY: Ilya Bryzgalov didn't surrender all nine
goals in Thursday's wild 9-8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets - but he sure
felt like he did. Signed to a nine-year, $51 million deal in the
offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers' goaltender admitted he had "zero
confidence" in himself and reached the lowest point in his career after
starting the campaign with a thud. "I'm terrible and I want to apologize
in front of the fans, in front of my teammates and I don't know what's
going on," Bryzgalov said after allowing 21 goals in his last five
appearances - highlighted a four-goal effort in relief on Thursday. "I
have zero confidence in myself right now. I am terrible. (The offense)
scores eight goals and we are still losing. It’s obviously a terrible
goalie and that’s me. I am the reason we lost the game (on Thursday). I
am lost in the woods right now." If it's any consolation to Bryzgalov,
his fellow countryman - Sergei Bobrovsky - wasn't exactly reminding the
Philly faithful of Bernie Parent. After seeing his team drop four of its
last five, coach Peter Laviolette hasn't named his starter for
Saturday's home game against Carolina. The Hurricanes snapped a
three-game losing skid with a 3-0 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks on
Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSCR, CSP
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (4-3-3): With Cam Ward turning
aside all 30 shots and collecting his 17th career shutout on Friday,
former Flyers netminder Brian Boucher may get the call to face his
former mates. Boucher hasn't fared well against Philadelphia, losing
both career starts and permitting eight goals in the process. Captain
Eric Staal's early-season struggles continued on Friday as he was denied
by Corey Crawford on a penalty shot. Staal has just one goal and an
assist in his last eight games.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (5-4-1): Philadelphia's atrocious
goaltending notwithstanding, the team's offense and resolve should be
credited as the Flyers fought back from a 6-2 deficit with five
consecutive goals on Thursday. Danny Briere tallied twice and has three
goals and four assists in his last four contests. James van Riemsdyk,
who signed a six-year, $25.5 million extension in the offseason,
rebounded from a four-game absence on the scoresheet with two goals and
an assist.
OVERTIME:
1. Carolina has certainly struggled against Philadelphia. Although the
Hurricanes skated to a 3-2 win in their last encounter on Feb. 18, the
Flyers had won the previous 18 contests.
2. Philadelphia rookie Brayden Schenn was called up from Adirondack of
the American Hockey League last week and went on long-term injured
reserve with a broken left foot. He will miss approximately four-to-six
weeks.