DETROIT - Ilya Bryzgalov was back in the Motor City yesterday for the first time since being shelled in Detroit's first-round sweep of Phoenix in last spring's playoffs, but he didn't get a chance to exact revenge on the Red Wings.
Instead, the closest Bryzgalov got to the ice was the Flyers' bench, as Sergei Bobrovsky started the third game in a row. Bryzgalov even left the cramped Joe Louis Arena bench area after the first period to sit in the locker room, according to NBC Sports Network.
No word on whether he was refilling his Winter Classic thermos. He did return to the bench, wearing a Winter Classic hat, for the final minute of last night's 4-3 loss to the Red Wings.
Bobrovsky's start was somewhat of a surprise - given that he allowed eight goals on 53 shots in his last two starts - and that general manager Paul Holmgren said Bryzgalov was "healthy" before the game.
Bryzgalov sat out the last two games with flulike symptoms. Coach Peter Laviolette said he was uncomfortable giving Bryzgalov the start.
"He hasn't practiced [since Wednesday], he hasn't been out there," Laviolette said.
Plus, Laviolette said he wasn't sold that Bryzgalov was completely healthy.
"He probably isn't feeling great," Laviolette said. "He's still battling. It's not one of those things that's gone, it's not one of those 24-hour things. These flus are hanging around a little bit."
Emergency goaltender Jason Bacashihua, recalled from Adirondack in time for last Thursday's game, was with the Flyers in Detroit but did not dress. He will likely return to Adirondack today, especially since the Flyers don't play again until Thursday when they host Buffalo.
Few players could use these three nights off more than Jake Voracek, who missed last night's game with what is being termed as an upper-body injury.
Paul Holmgren said Voracek's injury is below the neck, but still "upper-body," cooling speculation that he might have suffered a concussion on a first-period hit to the head in Saturday's shellacking by the Rangers.
Voracek played just 6:46 on Saturday and did not skate a single shift in the third period. He accompanied the team to Detroit, but did not participate in warmups. He was not available to speak to the media.
"He's not playing tonight, so I guess that means he's day-to-day," Holmgren said.
