Sergei Bobrovsky is being a good soldier.
After being the Flyers' primary goalie and having a very strong rookie season in 2010-11, Bobrovsky is now Ilya Bryzgalov's understudy.
There is a chance Bobrovsky will get his first start of the season Tuesday night in Ottawa. Coach Peter Laviolette, who used Bryzgalov in the first four games (3-0-1), said he wouldn't announce his decision until the morning skate.
"I'm ready for every game," Bobrovsky said.
Bobrovsky, 23, who was one of the NHL's best goalies in the preseason, is not bitter about his diminished role.
"I'm not frustrated. Just keep working hard," said Bobrovsky, whose English has improved dramatically from last season, even though he has not taken lessons in a while. "I just wait for my chance."
Laviolette acknowledged that Bobrovsky had a "great training camp. . . . At some point, we'll get him going."
Barring an injury to the 31-year-old Bryzgalov, Bobrovsky is expected to play about 20 games this season. Bryzgalov has a 1.99 goals-against average and .927 save percentage after four games.
Last season, Bobrovsky went 28-13-8 with a 2.59 goals-against average and .915 save percentage, though he slumped toward the end of the season. Bobrovsky was the starter in Game 1 of the Flyers' first-round series vs. Buffalo, but was pulled during a shaky Game 2 and used only sparingly the rest of the way.
Right winger Jaromir Jagr has played well but still is looking for his first goal of the season; he has three assists.
Jagr, 39, spent the last three seasons playing in Russia, where the rinks are larger.
"You have to adjust. Not only quick skating, but quick thinking, quick stickhandling," he said. "Everything has to be quicker on smaller ice because there are so many bodies there."
Jagr claimed he has "never been a goal scorer. I like to play one-on-one on the boards."
Well, he does have 646 career NHL goals, including 62 in the 1995-96 season.
"I was good back then" Jagr said, smiling. "If I had been a good goal scorer, I would have had 80. Trust me."
- Sam Carchidi
