Flyers’ Playoff Hopes Fall on Boucher
NHLHS writer Dave Strehle takes a look at the constant black cloud that sits above the goal net of the Philadelphia Flyers.
The nightmare season for Philadelphia Flyers netminders continues.
GM Paul Holmgren revealed today that Michael Leighton’s high ankle sprain is severe and that he is likely to miss 8-10 weeks. 33-year-old Brian Boucher, whom Leighton had taken over for when Boosh suffered a lacerated finger in a game against the Florida Panthers on December 21st, will again take over the #1 spot.
It has been an injury-riddled year for any goalie wearing the Orange and Black. The season began on a high note with Ray Emery as the Flyers’ #1 goaltender, but when Razor required surgery to repair a tear in his abdominal wall, Boucher took over. It was at that time that Holmgren made the waiver wire move to pick up Leighton from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Leighton and the Flyers thrived and Boucher didn’t see another start. When Emery came back and was declared healthy, coach Peter Laviolette inserted him into the starting job when Leighton finally lost a decision. Emery started eight straight games and the team was inconsistent in their efforts from one night to the next.
Emery went down again after a shutout of the Calgary Flames on February 1st. This time it was a hip injury that, after shutting Razor down during the NHL’s Olympic break in hopes that the rest would be enough to heal him, instead required season-ending surgery. The starting job would be Leighton’s the rest of the way. That is, until Leighton was injured in Nashville on Tuesday night.
With Leighton out until probably the third round of the playoffs, Philly’s playoff hopes fall squarely onto the shoulders of Boucher. And even if Philadelphia can qualify for the playoffs and make it to the third round, Leighton would likely be done for the season anyway. For the Flyers to go that far, Boucher would likely be the man for the duration of Philly’s run.
23-year-old Jeremy Duchesne, a Flyers 4th round selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has been recalled to backup Boucher on an emergency basis from the Adirondack Phantoms. Duchesne was recently recalled from the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings due to a lower body injury to Johan Backlund, the Phantoms’ starter for much of the season. Backlund had been called up to backup Boucher and Leighton for 8 games during the current season. This is Duchesne’s first time to be called up by the Flyers.
The Flyers will be in Dallas to play the Stars tonight. It should be interesting to see how the rest of the year plays out in Philly, and who will stay healthy enough to keep hold of the Flyers’ goaltending reigns. Stay tuned…
David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia
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Nice job writing about a very difficult situation. As a Flyers fan this year is just so hard to take. The fact that our farm team is suffering goalie injuries as well is something I never saw coming. It’s almost as if the Flyers can’t recall goalies fast enough. I sure don’t know where this season is going to take us but I sure don’t like how it’s looking right now.
Dave,
This damn black cloud always finds. Way to ruin every damn season since the late Pelle (RIP).
One thing happens from this – Boosh turns into Batman and rescues Gotham or Flyers watch, who would have been their pick, a high draft choice stud type walk to another team.
Nice quick posting shortly after the news broke.