After Saturday's practice in Voorhees, coach Peter Laviolette would not name his goalie for Sunday. Buffalo, seeded seventh, has a three-games-to-two lead and can wrap up the series by defeating the second-seeded Flyers.
The goalie selection - and whether injured defenseman Chris Pronger returns to the lineup - adds suspense to Sunday's 3 p.m. matchup.
Pronger, who skated and took shots during Saturday's practice, hasn't played since March 8 because of a broken right hand. He will be a game-time decision Sunday, but Jeff Carter (knee) isn't expected to play the rest of the series.
Laviolette was asked whether he would make his goalie selection based more on the netminders' work in the regular season or the playoffs.
"For me, it will probably be a combination of everything," he said. "Certainly, where we're at right now and how the playoffs have gone will factor into it probably more than how someone played halfway through the year or the beginning of the year or last year."
Aside from the last game, Boucher has been steady all season, which is why he is expected to get the call.
Bobrovsky's confidence probably is shot for this series, and Leighton didn't instill much trust with his shaky OT goal Friday.
Boucher joked with reporters after Saturday's practice. Asked how he slept Friday after his early-game meltdown, Boucher smiled.
"From a medical standpoint, are you asking?" he replied.
He paused.
"I was upset after [Friday's game]. Look, I said it [Friday]. I take responsibility for the first two goals. My mistake, and I put my team in a hole, so I wasn't happy about that. . . . But if you're asking medically how I slept, I slept fine. I got about eight hours. Thanks for asking."
Leighton hinted that he thought Boucher would get the start but said he was ready if he got the nod. He said he was preparing as if he was starting.
