Sometimes, numbers lie.
This is one of those times with the Flyers.
Through two games, Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has looked sharp in net. Yet, you would not know that based on the league stats.
The stats say Bryzgalov has a 3.05 goals against average and .909 save percentage. What they dont say is that the clubs defensemen arent playing very well and that hes had to face too many shots off breakdowns. Or that the opposition has burned the Flyers penalty kill units with five power-play goalsfour against him (one against an empty net).
I think Ive played pretty good games, Bryzgalov said.
He faced 40 shots on Sunday in Buffalo.
Hes looked great in practice and hes made great saves, Scott Hartnell said. You cant fault him on some of the goals. You got one of the best goal scorers in Thomas Vanek and he comes in all alone.
NHL
Makes a nice move and beats him. Definitely not Bryzs fault. We have to play better in front of him.
Peter Laviolette backed that up.
You see eight goals against in two games and two empty-netters and theres nine power plays, one four on four, one even strength goal five on five, Laviolette said of whats going on through two games.
Weve given up some chances. Pittsburgh will generate chances because of their skill level. Buffalo had some chances in their home opener so, again, I think there are a lot of things I think we can do better.
Among them, winning faceoffs, special teams play and line changes which havent been very clean at times.
Things we can tighten up on that will help eliminate chances, Laviolette said.
Welcome, Tye
Tye McGinn had a very strong training camp. General manager Paul Holmgren liked what he saw and stated the obvious: it was a numbers game.
With Danny Briere injured, and sources confirming he will not play Tuesday night against the Devils, it opens the door for rookie Scott Laughton to stick around. Now that Zac Rinaldo will miss games with a bad skate cut on his right leg, McGinn got a call-up Monday from the Phantoms.
McGinn will be available to play Tuesday in New Jersey.
Brieres absence shows on the ice in several ways: on faceoffs, puck control, offensive zone time, and obviously, scoring chances and goal scoring
Little power
Flyers are 24th on the power play with one goal in nine chances (11.1 percent). They are even worse on the penalty kill27th. The opposition has five goals on nine chances (44.4 percent kill ratio).
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.
