Ray Emery Shines with the Flyers

For the first two regular season games Philadelphia Flyers new starting goalie Ray Emery has proven his many critics wrong. When this 27 year-old signed on July 1 to be the Flyers new starting goalie many skeptics believed that Emery who spent last year playing in the Kontinental Hockey League didn’t have the mental makeup of handling the pressure of being a starter. Prior to his one- year stint in Russia Emery who was drafted by the Ottawa Senators 2001 had worn out his welcome in the nation’s capital. In 2008 Emery’s reputation as a team player took a major hit after he endured a troubled campaign that saw him arrive on numerous times late for team practices and being in the middle of some fights with teammates during practices. Emery who missed the beginning of that troubled 2007/08 season with a wrist injury, made his dis- satisfaction known about losing his starting job due to being sidelined. At the end of that campaign which saw Emery win only 12 of his 31 starts Sens GM put the troubled goalie on waivers and after he wasn’t claimed decided to play in Russia. This past July Flyers GM Paul Holmgren decided to give Emery a second chance and on June 10 the two sides agreed on a one- year deal. Making the most of his second chance Emery on Saturday night came within ten minutes of posting back to- back shutouts. A statement was made by this five year veteran on Friday when he made 28 saves in a 2-0 season opening victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. Showing that to be no fluke Emery was once again solid on Saturday night as he came close to equaling Flyers legend Bernie Parent who posted two shutouts to open up the 1973 season. In what was a 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils Emery made a bold statement early in the first when he stood tall in making a couple of big saves on New Jersey’s Travis Zajac and Jay Pandolfo from in close. “He’s been incredible,” Flyers rookie James Van Riemsdyk said. “If he has had any doubters I think he’s proved them all wrong now because of how incredible he has played. He made every save he should, and some saves he should not have made.” What makes Philadelphia such a serious Stanley Cup contender is their balanced scoring. Against future hall of fame goalie Martin Brodeur all four lines for Philadelphia got on the score sheet. Scoring on this night were Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Ian Laperriere, Darroll Powe and Matt Carle. “It’s going to be critical all year, different people stepping up,” Richards said. “All four lines scored tonight and that’s what we need to have success.” Not to take anything away from Philadelphia but they caught Brodeur on an off day and after the game he wasn’t afraid to admit it. “It was a tough game,” Brodeur said. “Positioning I thought I was pretty good on a few of them and other ones I really wasn’t there.” Meanwhile the only Devils to solve Emery on this night were Brian Rolston and Jamie Langenbrunner. “You can’t predict anything, that’s why you want to have a good camp, to have a strong start and get off on the right foot,” Emery said. “We are definitely happy winning two games on the road.”