Ilya Bryzgalov Has the Philadelphia Flyers Toward Another Goalie Controversy

Ever since the mid-90s, the Philadelphia Flyers could always provide hockey fans with one thing: a goalie controversy. Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky just might be amidst the latest.

As of late, Bryzgalov hasn't lived up to the nine-year, $51 million contract given to him this past summer. He has seven losses in his last 11 starts with a save percentage of .869. His sophomore counterpart on the other hand has had the hot hand. Bobrovsky has had the better luck as of late, including putting a stop to the shootout woes in a lackluster game against the Florida Panthers. 

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has been insistent on the fact that there is no such thing as a goalie carousel in the making, but coach Peter Laviolette has always gone with his gut.

Right now his gut is saying to attempt to get Bryz back on track. HBO’s 24/7 star showed us what most Philadelphia/Phoenix media know: Ilya wears his heart on his jersey. Bryz needs to get out of his own head (or universe) and back into the game. He knows his career won’t be validated until he wins a Cup of his own as a starter. Bryzgalov won one as a backup to J.S. Giguere on the 2007 Anaheim Ducks.

The way this situation has spun has created a scapegoat of sorts for the defensive corps.

At the beginning of the season, people predicted that Philly would play a tough defense with a lack of goals. The opposite has ensued. The Flyers stand at 162 total goals for (second in the NHL as of 1/25/11) and with 142 goals against that pits them at 18^th in the NHL. The front office knows that Philly should be a top-10 team in that department.

With a lingering hand injury to Kimmo Timonen, a season-ending concussion to Chris Pronger and the ever-declining play of Andreas Lilja, Holmgren will most likely have to make a trade to get help at the blue line. Just another reason why Ilya could be in one of the worst slumps of his career.

With a long-term contract in Philly, Bryz will have time to utilize his teaching cap and pass on the experience to his fellow Russian. Question now is how long will Laviolette let Bryzgalov slide before the mentor passes the teacher?