ST. PAUL, Minn. _ Amid snow and some freezing rain here in Minnysoda, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette did the unexpected.
He went back to Sergei Bobrovsky for tonight's game against the Wild.
“It was a good break for him and now he gets an opportunity to come back in here," Laviolette said. "He’s played in this building once [in pre-season]. He played pretty good here.”
Lavy is a superstitious type. If his goalie has stolen a game or is on a winning streak or might have lost but played well, he sticks with him. You go back to last season and the only goalie changes always seem to occur around an injury.
Which is why we thought he might stay with Brian Boucher for this game. Then at the morning skate, Boosh and Michael Leighton split shots from the forwards while BOB tooks shots at the other end of the ice against the defensemen.
That told us that BOB was likely in net. I asked him before he went on the ice what he thought and he said - in English _ he had not been told anything from "coach."
Today's skate was optional. That's the only lineup change although Lavy went on to clarify that his line might changed. Based on the morning skate, it appears that Nik Zherdev will start up top with Mike Richards and JVR and Andreas Nodl will go to the 4th line.
Of course, that could change depending upon how Zherdev's first couple of shifts go vs. how Nodl's goes. We've seen that already.
One more thing. it was REALLY bothering Lavy that he could not commit now as to whether he gives his team OFF on Thanksgiving. He wants them to show up at the rink for a 20-minute skate.
But ... the weather is bad here and there is a good chance the FLyers could be significantly delayed getting out after the game on their charter home.
"If we don't back till 3:30 or 4:30 in the morning, then the guys have to drive home, then unwind, it's not productive to have them come in during the morning," he said.
I think a lot will depend upon how well the Flyers play tonight.
Love that Bob: Here's my story on CSNPhilly.com:
click here 
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