By Brian A. Shactman ESPN.com Brian Boucher is 23 years old. He's a rookie. In fact, Boucher wasn't even in the Philadelphia Flyers' half of the media guide this preseason, not being expected to make his splash in the NHL until some future date. And now, he's outdueling Dominik Hasek, the goalie widely considered the best in the world.
So much talk has been made of Philly rookies Boucher and Simon Gagne, and for good reason. But two other rookies are quietly making a positive impact on the Flyers. Defensemen Mark Eaton and Andy Delmore played a combined 54 games for the Flyers this season. In the playoffs, however, both have played in all three games. In Game 3, Delmore skated for more than 18 minutes, and Eaton earned 14 minutes of ice time. Boucher has been sensational, but another factor in Philly shutting Buffalo down involves the defense not allowing many second-chance shots on Boucher. In addition, the Sabres have had great difficulty creating traffic in front of the Flyers' net. As a six-man unit, Philly's defense can be credited with policing the defensive zone -- and protecting Boucher -- with a fierce determination. Everyone knows Eric Desjardins, Luke Richardson, Chris Therien and Dan McGillis -- all well-traveled NHL veterans -- but the infusion of dependable, young speed has rejuvenated the defensemen corps. It has also enabled interim coach Craig Ramsey to rest the veterans and keep them fresh for late in the game. That could be a huge positive for the Flyers if they go deep in the playoffs. Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com. |
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