To borrow a phrase from departed Flyers goaltender Robert Esche, Antero Niittymaki sees the writing on the wall and it says: "Marty Biron will be the Flyers' No. 1 goalie down the stretch and into the playoffs."
"John (Stevens) told me a couple days ago I'd get one game this weekend," Niittymaki said. "I think he kind of mapped this out."
Tonight on Long Island, Niittymaki will make his first start since March 18, when he recorded a solid 3-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
At the time, Biron had lost his previous three starts and there was speculation Stevens might hand Niittymaki the ball down the stretch.
Niittymaki says he knew better.
"It's been like that all year," he said. "There were times I was playing more, but I think that happens with every team. A goalie gets hot and they keep playing him awhile. I kind of thought they'd go back to Marty."
The Flyers traded a second-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Biron last year because they thought he could emerge as their long-term solution between the pipes. Biron has been solid this season, but only rarely has he stolen games for the Flyers.
In fact, the primary reason Niittymaki is starting tonight is because Biron is a woeful 0-5 with a 5.95 GAA and .822 save percentage in the second game of games on consecutive days.
So what happens if the Flyers get into the playoffs and face games on back-to-back days?
"The playoffs is a totally different animal," Stevens said. "You get the rest you need. Right now, it's all about getting in. You get one guy playing well, you stick with him."
Niittymaki said he's hoping tonight is not the last action he sees all season, although there's a good chance it may be.
"Hopefully, there are no injuries," he said, "but if anything happens (to Biron), you need to keep your head in there and be ready."
Downie awaits his chance: Rookie right wing Steve Downie, 20, would like nothing better than to sink his teeth into his first Stanley Cup playoff drive. But he says he has no one to blame but himself for spending the past two weeks in the press box.
"I learned you can't take a day off or a shift off, especially when you're my age," said Downie, who sat out his eighth straight game Friday night. "You take shifts off and it will cost you ice time.
"I have to be more consistent. You shouldn't just be handed ice time. I believe you've got to work for your ice time. If you don't deserve it, you shouldn't get it. That's how it is, and that's how it should be."
Downie's best stretch of hockey came in January, when he took a regular shift on a line with Mike Richards and Joffrey Lupul. But when his production and energy tailed off, his ice time dropped dramatically.
Stevens said one reason Downie is not in the lineup is because, except for enforcer Riley Cote, all of his other forwards can either play on the power play or kill penalties.
With winger R.J. Umberger less than a week from returning from a sprained knee, Downie might drop from 13th to 14th on the Flyers' depth chart at forward. But that doesn't mean he isn't itching to show Stevens what he can do.
"Obviously, no one likes to sit out," he said. "But you pay your dues, I guess. The main thing right now is winning games and getting into the playoffs."
"John (Stevens) told me a couple days ago I'd get one game this weekend," Niittymaki said. "I think he kind of mapped this out."
Tonight on Long Island, Niittymaki will make his first start since March 18, when he recorded a solid 3-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
At the time, Biron had lost his previous three starts and there was speculation Stevens might hand Niittymaki the ball down the stretch.
Niittymaki says he knew better.
"It's been like that all year," he said. "There were times I was playing more, but I think that happens with every team. A goalie gets hot and they keep playing him awhile. I kind of thought they'd go back to Marty."
The Flyers traded a second-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Biron last year because they thought he could emerge as their long-term solution between the pipes. Biron has been solid this season, but only rarely has he stolen games for the Flyers.
In fact, the primary reason Niittymaki is starting tonight is because Biron is a woeful 0-5 with a 5.95 GAA and .822 save percentage in the second game of games on consecutive days.
So what happens if the Flyers get into the playoffs and face games on back-to-back days?
"The playoffs is a totally different animal," Stevens said. "You get the rest you need. Right now, it's all about getting in. You get one guy playing well, you stick with him."
Niittymaki said he's hoping tonight is not the last action he sees all season, although there's a good chance it may be.
"Hopefully, there are no injuries," he said, "but if anything happens (to Biron), you need to keep your head in there and be ready."
Downie awaits his chance: Rookie right wing Steve Downie, 20, would like nothing better than to sink his teeth into his first Stanley Cup playoff drive. But he says he has no one to blame but himself for spending the past two weeks in the press box.
"I learned you can't take a day off or a shift off, especially when you're my age," said Downie, who sat out his eighth straight game Friday night. "You take shifts off and it will cost you ice time.
"I have to be more consistent. You shouldn't just be handed ice time. I believe you've got to work for your ice time. If you don't deserve it, you shouldn't get it. That's how it is, and that's how it should be."
Downie's best stretch of hockey came in January, when he took a regular shift on a line with Mike Richards and Joffrey Lupul. But when his production and energy tailed off, his ice time dropped dramatically.
Stevens said one reason Downie is not in the lineup is because, except for enforcer Riley Cote, all of his other forwards can either play on the power play or kill penalties.
With winger R.J. Umberger less than a week from returning from a sprained knee, Downie might drop from 13th to 14th on the Flyers' depth chart at forward. But that doesn't mean he isn't itching to show Stevens what he can do.
"Obviously, no one likes to sit out," he said. "But you pay your dues, I guess. The main thing right now is winning games and getting into the playoffs."
