Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Neuvirth serious about latest season restart
PHILADELPHIA » It had been so long since Michal Neuvirth’s last start in the Flyers’ goal crease that the last time he did so he was actually healthy.
But seriously folks, Neuvirth, perhaps the NHL’s best goalie that always gets hurt, isn’t finding much humor in the lack-of-work topic of post-game conversation these days. To him, it’s certainly no laughing matter, not even in the immediate aftermath Sunday of a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Asked in jest if he was ready to carry the load now, Neuvirth ignored all accompanying snickers and said flatly, “We are going to enjoy winning tonight’s game and three in a row and we are going to focus on the next game after the (schedule) break.” Oh. Yeah, so, forget that rim shot.
Neuvirth might be used to being asked about injuries, but he was in net for only his ninth start of the season in this game, having won just two of his prior eight. And his last starting chance was back on Nov. 28, so you can understand if he doesn’t cackle along with the crowd.
“I haven’t been feeling good about myself lately,” said Neuvirth, who took quite a while to get over a left knee injury. “It’s frustrating when you get injured. I can’t help my teammates. (But) I feel good about myself right now. It’s kind of a shame we won three in a row and (are now) leaving for the break. But it’s the schedule.”
The schedule for Flyers goalies this season hasn’t been easy. Top Lehigh Valley Phantoms goalie and supposed Flyers net successor Anthony Stolarz has been out all season after September surgery on his twice-torn left knee meniscus, with a marathon recovery expected to go through March.
Alex Lyon has been carrying the load and splitting time there with someone named Dustin Tokarski, except for those games Lyon had to come up to sit the bench for the Flyers while Neuvirth recovered from yet another injury spell.
That’s left it up to Brian Elliott to get a lot more action than he expected when he signed as a free agent in July. In fact, the 32-year-old Elliott probably feels like Marty Brodeur in his prime.
Elliott was forced to start 24 of the previous 25 Flyers games until finally being cut a break by Neuvirth Sunday. Ah, but now Neuvy’s back. He is, isn’t he? No, seriously... “I think it’s a great way for him to go into the break and come back into our lineup,” cut-up coach Dave Hakstol said of Neuvirth, who made 30 saves and withstood two early Sabres power plays and an 11-3 early Buffalo shots edge Sunday. “It has been a long time since he’s had the opportunity to start a game. For him to come in and, to think back to that save (on Sam Reinhart) he made in the first period, that was a great way for him to say, ‘I’m ready to step in and help this team.’”