But Phoenix Bryz - he's the guy who was a Vezina contender a couple of years ago - has morphed into a goalie who lost his confidence in the big city and dragged the Flyers' goals-against average to 2.97, 26th in the 30-team NHL.
"I will try to find peace in my soul to play in this city," Bryzgalov said after the Flyers' 6-4 loss to the Penguins on Saturday.
Lost in the woods one month. Lost in the city in another. (BTW, it's tough not rooting for Bryzgalov. He is refreshingly honest. If only his candidness could translate into a higher save percentage.)
Since there are no do-overs, the Flyers are stuck with his nine-year contract and forced into Plan B: get as many big, physical defensemen before the Feb. 27 trade deadline and hope they can clear bodies and prevent Philly Bryz from having to make many difficult saves.
Grossman is 6-4, 230 pounds; Kubina is 6-4, 258.
Lots of fans, sensing the Flyers have little chance to win a Cup this season, wanted them to be sellers and trade prospective free agent Matt Carle and the aging Kimmo Timonen,
My response: Remember 2010.
That was the year the Flyers stumbled down the stretch and needed a shootout win on the last day of the regular season - somehow, Brian Boucher outdueled Henrik Lundqvist, the New York Rangers' superb goalie - just to qualify for the playoffs.
A little more than seven weeks later, the seventh-seeded Flyers were Eastern Conference champions and playing Chicago for the Stanley Cup. It's a Cup they probably would have won if Michael Leighton hadn't been so awful in goal.
Fast-forward to 2012. After an impressive first three months, the Flyers have been a model of mediocrity. They have gone 6-7-3 since Jan. 14. Worse, they are 0-5 against the Rangers, a team they might meet in the playoffs.
