LOOKS LIKE ESCHE VS BOOOOOSH IS A GO
From Philadelphia Examiner.............
Posted on Thu, Oct. 31, 2002
Coyotes' arrival gives chance for swapped goalies to shine
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Staff Writer
Brian Boucher and Robert Esche have been looking forward to tonight since June 12.
That's when the Phoenix Coyotes exchanged goalies with the Flyers, who also acquired center Michal Handzus as part of the trade.
Tonight, the two goalies will be wearing each's former sweater when the Flyers meet the Coyotes at First Union Center.
"You look at the schedule, and knew you would be here quick," said Boucher, who spent five years in the Flyers organization. "It came quicker than I thought. It's going to be exciting."
Esche and Boucher were teammates on the 1996 U.S. world junior squad.
"As soon as the schedule came out, I looked to see when we were playing Phoenix and thought if everything worked out well, I'd be playing against them," Esche said. "I'm excited."
Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock is going with Esche tonight because he said he's earned "a bonus" with his solid play as Roman Cechmanek's backup. Besides, Hitchcock understands something about motivation, and nothing could be more motivating for these two than to play against each other.
"Obviously, I want to win the game and play well and prove to [Phoenix] that I can win games," said Esche, who never had a chance to be a starter in the desert. "But I am not preparing for it any differently."
The game likely means more to Boucher, who was very popular here, first as a Phantom and then as the guy who took the Flyers to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001.
That Boucher got traded instead of Roman Cechmanek, whose playoff antics didn't sit well with his teammates or Flyers management last spring, was indeed a shock to everyone.
"Initially, when you get traded, part of you is disappointed," Boucher said. "You leave a group of guys, and it's almost like you feel the team gave up on you. Then you talk to your new team and they are gung-ho to get you. So you feel 50-50. Obviously, you want to go to a new team with the right attitude. Sure, I was disappointed. I won't lie to you. But they were excited to have me."
Boucher will be appearing in his seventh game tonight. Starter Sean Burke is sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Boucher has a 3-4 record, with a 3.22 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage. He sees this as an opportunity to establish himself on a club that knows less about him than the Flyers do.
"My new teammates don't know what I can do, so maybe they need to see how I can play," Boucher said. "With Sean being out a while, maybe I can do that... . This is a great group of guys. We're a pretty young team, all the guys around my age. These guys had a great year last year, and Sean was a huge part of their success. Hopefully, I can provide the job that needs to be provided to win games."
Unseating Burke is not going to be easy unless his play is spectacular or Burke's injury lingers. Are things better for Boucher in Phoenix?
"Nothing is for certain," he said. "Things can change quickly. I am happy where I am right now. It's a good organization..."
Boucher signed a new deal in September, redoing this season and extending the contract through 2003-04. The two-year-plus-option deal pays him $6.5 million. Phoenix GM Mike Barnett also extended Burke's contract for two years at $9 million, so it could be a while before Boucher gets a permanent starter's job.
Boucher says he won't concern himself with that. He's hoping to win the job outright in due time, which may be a lesson he took from his time with the Flyers. He says he has learned to relax more and put things in perspective.
"Everything here [in Philly] seems to be magnified because it is a team that sees itself as a contender," Boucher said. "You have to learn to brush it off. I've been in the league three years and have had the good, the bad and the ugly, and I'm still here. You can't get too down when it's bad and too high when it's high.
"Going to Phoenix, it is a little less attention. They don't know who you are, and it's a breath of fresh air. You can just play."
Boucher and Esche each admit to being nervous tonight.
"I've got to watch [Daniel] Briere and Shane Doan," Esche said. "Those guys can beat you."
Boucher compares tonight to going into his hometown of Boston every year.
"It's a nervous-energy type of thing," he said. "This was home for five years. This will be fun."
Loose pucks. Right wing Radovan Somik (groin pull) will reenter the lineup tonight, as will left wing Todd Fedoruk (bruised right thumb). Fedoruk was wearing a splint on the thumb yesterday. Center Marty Murray remains out with a groin pull... . Kirby Law and Andre Savage returned to the Phantoms yesterday... . Phoenix will be playing its third game in four nights... . The Flyers said 1,000 tickets remain for the game.
