TORONTO _ I've been as tough as anyone on goalie Brian Boucher down the stretch.
He has been a ghost of his former self ever since he sliced his finger and went on the shelf. He came back and just hasn't been the goalie he was earlier this season.
That said, Boucher came up with his first shutout in more than a year tonight at ACC against the Maple Leafs (2-0) as the Flyers reduced their Magic Number to 2 for clinching a playoff spot.
What I like most is that Boucher needed to give his teammates some confidence. Confidence that he can make a decisive, game-saving stop when the Flyers most need it and he did with that diving stick save on Luca Caputi's shot deflection during a Leafs PP at the end.
Ian Laperriere doesn't hold back. He knows this team needs to feel good about its goalie if it is going to have chance in the weeks ahead.
“He played great the last game against Montreal and he is raising his level and that’s what we need right now from our goalie,” Lappy told me after the game. “He played a great game. He needed that. But we needed that, too, as a team. He raised his level. I’m so happy for him. It’s unbelievable. He works so hard in practice.”
The Flyers also got good news on another front today. JOhan Backlund tooks shots, going down on the ice and doings splits without pain. GM Paul Holmgren told me it was the best news of the day because both he thinks Backlund could be ready to go next week when the playoffs begin.
Yeah, we're assuming the FLyers get in ... but the number is 2 and they can clinch tomorrow with a Maple Leafs win over the Rangers.
And Jeff Carter's MRI is Wednesday, as well. He could be ready this weekend ... but if the Flyers clinch, it might be better to hold Carter off until next week.
Here's my story on CSNPhilly.com
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