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Boucher Named Game 4 Star (Mentors)
Apr. 21, 2010
Brian Boucher has trained with GCG Consultant Brian Daccord for several years.
PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 20: Brian Boucher #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers acknowledges the crowd after being named a star of the game against the New Jersey Devils in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center on April 20, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Devils 4-1 to take a three games to one lead in their best of seven series.
IN THE DUEL OF GOALIES, BOUCHER OUTPLAYING BRODEUR
By Phil Sheridan
One goalie is going to the Hall of Fame. The other is on the verge of going to the second round.
There are a bunch of reasons the Flyers have three chances to win one more game against the New Jersey Devils in this first-round playoff series. The Flyers have neutralized New Jersey's best players with smothering defense and relentless forechecking. And they have done a remarkable job killing off way too many penalties.
But when you get right down to it, Brian Boucher is outplaying Martin Brodeur. Straight up.
"He's a world-class goalie," Boucher said, wincing at the suggestion as if it would jinx him. "He's maybe the best we've ever seen. He's capable of stealing games."
If he was going to steal one, Game 4 was it.
Brodeur made the save of the series early in the second period Tuesday night. The Flyers were swarming toward the net. Dan Carcillo carried the puck in and zipped a pass to Mike Richards directly in front. Expecting a tip or a quick shot, Brodeur went down to the ice. But Richards slipped a soft pass to Simon Gagne, who was alone in the slot.
Gagne, who has had wretched luck all series, fired a perfect shot toward the middle of the net. Brodeur, who looked as relaxed as a man in a poolside chaise, reached up with his glove and snatched the puck out of the air.
It was brilliant, and it preserved a 1-0 lead created during a frenzied first period. The Devils knew they had to win this game to have a reasonable chance at winning the series. They had to. And they came out in the first period with great intensity. The Flyers, struggling to keep up, committed a string of penalties. Ilya Kovalchuk scored a marksman's goal during one five-on-three advantage.
"You certainly want to weather the storm in a situation like that," Boucher said. "Coming out of there just one goal down was not so bad."
In the old days, in his prime, Brodeur was a goalie who could make a one-goal lead stand up. In those days, monster defenseman Scott Stevens roamed in front of the net, helping to make life miserable for anyone who dared to get too close to the great Brodeur.
Well, Stevens is safely behind the Devils' bench now as an assistant coach. In Chris Pronger, it is the Flyers who have the most intimidating blueliner. And Brodeur is 37.
He is not finished. After Game 1, there was a respectful insinuation in this space that perhaps his big-game days were behind him. After all, Brodeur was benched during Team Canada's run to the gold medal in the Vancouver Olympics in February.
But he had a typically excellent regular season and was simply outstanding in an overtime loss to the Flyers in Game 3 at the Wachovia Center. So when he stunned Gagne and the 19,000 orange-and-black faithful with that glove save, it began to look as if the Flyers might be in some trouble.
According to the logic, Brodeur would be Brodeur and Boucher would turn back into a pumpkin or a Phantom or a San Jose Shark or something.
But no, it was Brodeur who cracked in Game 4. Boucher didn't make a save as flashy as that miracle against Gagne, but he has been steady, perfectly positioned and unshakable.
"I'm just trying to focus a shot at a time," Boucher said. "I know it sounds so cliche, but I really am. I'm just trying to compete and battle and make the saves I need to make. Whatever happens, happens. You have to be in the moment and do the best you can. That's all I can do."
Around the NHL, goalies have run hot and cold throughout these playoffs. The Capitals, the No. 1 seed in the East, benched their starter. Vancouver's Robert Luongo, the man who replaced Brodeur in the net and won gold for Canada, was benched after allowing a bad goal Monday night.
After making that terrific save on Gagne, Brodeur allowed a total of four goals in the final 29 minutes of Game 4.
So Boucher's quietly confident play would be remarkable enough if not for the hook. It has been 10 years since he led this team on a playoff run. In 2000, just 23, Boucher faced the Devils in the conference finals. The Flyers led the series, three games to one, then lost it, four games to three.
"It's hard not to think about," Boucher said. "Hopefully, the script is written differently. Ten years is 10 years. You learn from experiences, good and bad. I certainly don't want to go through that again."
Back then, Brodeur was in the prime of his career. Boucher was good. He was very good, but Brodeur was better.
That isn't the case in 2010.
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