Philadelphia Goalies Fight Back

It has been rough to be a goaltender in Philadelphia recently. Bouts of the flu and many poor performances have led to benchings, call-ups, starter switches, and views from the end of the Flyers’ bench. In fact many Flyers fans are still arguing as to whether or not Biron and Niittymaki will be with the orange and black for the remainder of the season let alone years to come. Not since the days of Hextall have the Flyers been able to say they have consistent goaltending year in and year out. That has led to even further frustration as it seems to be the one thing holding them back from their Stanley Cup dreams.

With the Flyers offense carrying the team to victory there have been countless shouts to GM Paul Holmgren to either make a move for a top-notch defender ranging from Florida’s Jay Bouwmeester and Anaheim’s Chris Pronger or to go after a true number one goalie for the future of Philadelphia hockey. Though the Flyers fans have not forgotten the incredible play of Biron in the postseason last year they remain skeptical that Marty and Niitty can carry them against the tough offenses of Boston and Washington.

All of the frustration of over a decade without a consistent netminder culminated in the game this past weekend against the Flyers’ bitter rival Pittsburgh Penguins. With just under 3 minutes left to play in a 4-4 tie game in Philadelphia, Biron skated full tilt from his net in a charge towards Pittsburgh’s Pascal Dupuis. He managed to thwart the initial attack but soon found himself in an awkward situation: does he cover the puck outside his cage and take a penalty for delay of game or flip it away and hurry back to his net? He chose the latter option but instead of making sure the puck was safely away from a white jersey he dropped it in a panic right into the stick of a returning Dupuis. The Penguins’ winger made a quick little pass to Crosby who tapped it in the open net welcoming the unwarranted glory of carrying Pittsburgh over their in-state division rivals.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zZoquFHq1Y

The result was one of the biggest uprisings of frustration toward their team in franchise history. The Flyers fans and their goaltenders were not on the best of terms going into the Pittsburgh game. Marty seemed to have cost them a huge win against the Penguins of all teams. Instead of holding off the Penguin onslaught until the overtime where the Flyers were guaranteed at least a point in the standings they were returning to the locker room after the third without anything to show for a solid effort.

A Tuesday game in Washington against another rival in the Eastern Conference brought forth Antero Niittymaki to almost no one’s surprise. Shockingly enough, despite the Flyers going down 2-0 during the second period Niitty continued to stand on his head for the entire game allowing the Philadelphia offense to take over in the Flyers 4-2 victory. Antero had stopped 33 of the 35 shots that came his way.

Tonight saw Biron in net at home against the Los Angeles Kings who had already claimed victory against a visiting Flyers squad earlier this season in a tight overtime game. Marty didn’t make as many spectacular saves as Niitty did the previous night, but he did remain solid for three long periods. He stopped all 34 shots that came his way surviving five penalty kills and earning himself his 25th career shutout.

The jury is still out on the Flyers goaltending despite back to back solid games, one for each netminder. History designates that absolutely anything can happen on the NHL Trade Deadline Day which is creeping closer and closer with each passing day. It is now just over six days away, and it seems more and more likely the Flyers, despite needs on the blueline and between the pipe, will be making only minor moves. John Stevens has been quoted as being confident with his current team in the postseason as long as some minor changes are made. Anyone would be confident with point per game forward Danny Briere expecting to be back in Friday’s game in Philadelphia at the earliest after missing most of the season with groin issues.

On another note Jeff Carter, who had been held goal-less in 5 straight games going into Wednesday’s game in Washington, now has two games in two nights with game winning goals. He is now in sole possession of 2nd place in the race for the Rocket Richard trophy behind Alexander Ovechkin and ahead of Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils. Joffrey Lupul gets his 3rd assist in the two games remaining hot as rumors continue to float around about his possible departure from Philadelphia. Claude Giroux, who had the Flyers’ first goal in the Washington game, earns himself the third star of tonight’s game without registering a point. Gagne also breaks out of a slump by putting in the empty netter for his 23rd goal of the season.