ComcastPhilly, has learned that Swedish goalie Johan Backlund will make his NHL debut tomorrow in PGH as Flyers start crucial weekend ...
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Desperate times in hockey sometimes call for desperate measures.
Against that backdrop, the reeling Flyers are looking for Johan Backlund to give them a much-need boost when he makes his NHL debut in goal Saturday in Pittsburgh, CSNPhilly.com has learned.
The 28-year-old Swede, who has played very well in 41 games with the Phantoms with a 21-17-2 record, will try to end the Flyers? four-game losing streak.
?For me, it would be a great chance to play my first game and try to help the team,? Backlund said at Friday?s practice, even though he still had not been told of the start.
?We have to win games here to [stay] in the playoffs. I don't know their thoughts. I hope they trust me.?
Backlund had a 2.76 goals against average and .906 save percentage with the Phantoms.
?It's been a learning process, especially in the beginning,? Backlund said. ?I think after a couple of months you get used to it, and I feel pretty comfortable in the American Hockey League. I know there's a big step to play here, but it felt good in practice so it feels like I'm ready.?
Coach Peter Laviolette wouldn?t confirm his starting goalie.
?I'm not going to comment on any of the lines or the lineup just yet,? Laviolette said.
General manager Paul Holmgren, who was part of a rather animated discussion with his coach after Thursday?s unnerving 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota, said the goalie decision was Laviolette?s to make.
Then Holmgren added how eager he was to see Backlund in net, a clue as to what was coming.
?I'd be anxious to see him play in the NHL,? Holmgren said. ?He's done everything we've asked in the American League and he's won games single-handedly down there.
?It's not like he hasn't played in elite leagues before. He's played in the Swedish Elite League for a number of years. I'd actually relish the opportunity to watch him.?
Everyone in Flyerdom is relishing this start because the Flyers are an overall mess right now in their ?team game? and their goaltending with Brian Boucher has been very inconsistent on a nightly basis.
With eight games left in the regular season, the Flyers are clinging to the seventh playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Loose pucks
Forward Jeff Carter had a screw inserted into his left foot on Friday. "Jeff Carter's surgery went very well," Holmgren said. "He will begin rehab on Sunday. Matt Carle is doing better. He is still listed as day-to-day." Holmgren also said Carle (bone bruise/left foot) remains questionable for the Penguins. ?We're getting his [medical] films and everything looked at a little more closely today,? he said. ?I would say there's an outside chance he could play in the game tomorrow. We won't know until either real late today or early tomorrow morning.??Backlund on contract talks: ?I haven't really talked to my agent [Don Baizley] in a couple of weeks, so I don't know what's going to happen next year. I told my agent I would like to stay here and play over here next year. But, I don't know much about the future.?
==============
Desperate times in hockey sometimes call for desperate measures.
Against that backdrop, the reeling Flyers are looking for Johan Backlund to give them a much-need boost when he makes his NHL debut in goal Saturday in Pittsburgh, CSNPhilly.com has learned.
The 28-year-old Swede, who has played very well in 41 games with the Phantoms with a 21-17-2 record, will try to end the Flyers? four-game losing streak.
?For me, it would be a great chance to play my first game and try to help the team,? Backlund said at Friday?s practice, even though he still had not been told of the start.
?We have to win games here to [stay] in the playoffs. I don't know their thoughts. I hope they trust me.?
Backlund had a 2.76 goals against average and .906 save percentage with the Phantoms.
?It's been a learning process, especially in the beginning,? Backlund said. ?I think after a couple of months you get used to it, and I feel pretty comfortable in the American Hockey League. I know there's a big step to play here, but it felt good in practice so it feels like I'm ready.?
Coach Peter Laviolette wouldn?t confirm his starting goalie.
?I'm not going to comment on any of the lines or the lineup just yet,? Laviolette said.
General manager Paul Holmgren, who was part of a rather animated discussion with his coach after Thursday?s unnerving 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota, said the goalie decision was Laviolette?s to make.
Then Holmgren added how eager he was to see Backlund in net, a clue as to what was coming.
?I'd be anxious to see him play in the NHL,? Holmgren said. ?He's done everything we've asked in the American League and he's won games single-handedly down there.
?It's not like he hasn't played in elite leagues before. He's played in the Swedish Elite League for a number of years. I'd actually relish the opportunity to watch him.?
Everyone in Flyerdom is relishing this start because the Flyers are an overall mess right now in their ?team game? and their goaltending with Brian Boucher has been very inconsistent on a nightly basis.
With eight games left in the regular season, the Flyers are clinging to the seventh playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
Loose pucks
Forward Jeff Carter had a screw inserted into his left foot on Friday. "Jeff Carter's surgery went very well," Holmgren said. "He will begin rehab on Sunday. Matt Carle is doing better. He is still listed as day-to-day." Holmgren also said Carle (bone bruise/left foot) remains questionable for the Penguins. ?We're getting his [medical] films and everything looked at a little more closely today,? he said. ?I would say there's an outside chance he could play in the game tomorrow. We won't know until either real late today or early tomorrow morning.??Backlund on contract talks: ?I haven't really talked to my agent [Don Baizley] in a couple of weeks, so I don't know what's going to happen next year. I told my agent I would like to stay here and play over here next year. But, I don't know much about the future.?
