The Flyers are keeping three goalies at the moment; they don't want to try to ship Leighton or Boucher to the AHL's Phantoms because another team could claim him on waivers.
Bobrovsky has a two-way contract and could be shipped to the Phantoms, but he has been one of the NHL's best goalies. General manager Paul Holmgren said he wasn't considering demoting the 22-year-old Russian.
Carrying three goalies is difficult because one of them, Leighton, does not get a lot of practice time. He has to get on the ice before and after practices to get more work.
"It's tough because one guy right now is kind of out of the mix and standing around for practice," goalie coach Jeff Reese said. "The two guys that are dressing need to get the work. Leights right now is the odd man out, but he saw last year how quickly things change."
Added Reese: "It's my job to make sure he's sharp when he does get in. Mentally, it's a grind on [him]. As a former goalie, you almost feel guilty for the guy standing there and watching practice. It's just human nature."
It would seem difficult for the third goalie to stay sharp, but Leighton proved in last season's playoffs that it can be done.
"He was out two months with the ankle injury, and without any games in the minors or anything, he went in and stood on his head," Reese said.
Leighton relieved the injured Boucher during Game 5 in Boston and won the final three games of that epic second-round series. In the conference finals against Montreal, Leighton posted a 1.40 goals-against average, a .950 save percentage, and three shutouts, becoming the first Flyer to notch consecutive playoff shutouts since Bernie Parent in 1975.
