2012 Winter Classic Sheds Light on Philadelphia Flyers Goalie Controversy

The Philadelphia Flyers thought they solidified their goaltending problems with the signing of Ilya Bryzgalov, the most highly touted free-agent goaltender on the market in the offseason.

In the Winter Classic, Peter Laviolette surprised many by choosing to go with backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the hopes of defending home ice against the New York Rangers in the 2012 Winter Classic.

But with the way Bryzgalov has been playing lately, many Flyers fans, including myself, weren't shocked by Laviolette's decision. The problem is, Bryzgalov signed a nine-year, $51 million contract to play in Philly. In a town that's been plagued by inconsistent goaltending for the last decade, Bryzgalov was supposed to change all that.

Unfortunately, Bryzgalov has yet to live up to the massive deal he signed. With his struggles come two words Flyers fans are way too familiar with: goalie controversy.

The Winter Classic may have been a great day for the NHL, but it was devastating for the Flyers. Laviolette's decision to bench Bryzgalov ignited a goalie controversy before the Flyers and Rangers even took the ice. What if Bobrovsky logged a shutout and the Flyers defended their turf in spectacular fashion in front of 47,000 fans?

How could Laviolette go back to Bryzgalov unless Bobrovsky tanks?

Thankfully, answers to these questions are moot since Bobrovsky turned out a subpar performance giving up three goals in a losing effort. Allowing the Rangers to steal a come-from-behind win on national television didn't help either.

In the aftermath of the Winter Classic, one thing's certain: the Flyers have a serious goaltending problem on their hands. Laviolette's move to bench Bryzgalov may have been done to inspire him in some odd way, but right now, there are way too many question marks surrounding him. His .890 save percentage ranks 43rd in the league and his 3.01 goals against average ranks 36th. These are not the numbers that reflect a nine-year, $51 million contract.

There's still plenty of hockey left to be played. The Winter Classic may have provided a glimpse into the Flyers' primary weakness, but this familiar situation begs only one question: Is Philadelphia the Bermuda Triangle for goaltenders?