Brian Elliott “The Moose” has stepped up in time of need time and time again, even with all his prior injuries with the Flyers, “I think it’s just something I’ve been trying to do each day is just put a little more focus on the details each day,” Elliott said, “Being a little bit more battle level like I said. The first part of these practices haven’t really adhered to that, it’s just been getting back on track. Now I think we have those fundamentals down and now it’s time to focus on those in-tight battles and things like that. I don’t think it matters who’s in and out of the lineup. I think you have to battle a little more when you don’t get a break out there. There’s two goalies right now. It doesn’t really affect your mindset going into those practices. We only got a few more days left before we leave, so I think the urgency is just natural for everyone right now.”
When healthy Elliott is a solid, good goalie, maybe not start 40-50 games a season, but a darn good backup, “We have full faith in both our Goaltenders,” Head Coach Alain Vigneault said today before practice. The problems that Elliott has had in the past with being unhealthy seem to be a thing of the past, so much so that Matt Niskanen is confident in “The Moose” to carry the load if need be, “To have a veteran guy who’s been there, confident, is a pro, that could step in and a moment doesn’t feel too big for him that could save you a series,” Niskanen said, “Brian’s talented enough and experienced enough where he could play a month if he had to. We’d be confident in him. He’s got that kind of skill set. It’s good mentally for goalies to be pushed just a little bit. Whoever’s in net at the time, everybody will back him. There’s that little bug in the back of your head where it pushes them and they’re not too comfortable. You don’t try to ease up in the playoffs at all and I don’t think any player does, but it helps to have just that little bit of competition in the background that pushes everybody to be their best. he hasn’t been able to stay consistently healthy while donning a Flyers sweater. Elliott is not the spring chicken he used to be. He can no longer be counted on as a starting Goaltender in this league, and one that can play in 40-45 games in a season. However, what he Elliott can be is a solid backup netminder for a contender that is looking to shore up the back-end, with the hopes of making an extended playoff run.”
“The Moose” put up solid backup numbers this season before it was halted due to the Coronavirus, compiling a 16-7-4 record, 2.87 GAA, with a .899 Save Percentage. Not eye popping numbers by any means, or Vezina Trophy numbers, but it showed he did his job. Elliott carried the load for the Flyers when Carter Hart was hurt in January-February, and he compiled a 6-2-2 record for his efforts, “I’ve felt kind of better and better each day. Today I felt really good,” Elliott said, “It’s just getting back that competitiveness and battle level, things like that. I think we’ve done a good job of trying to ramp things up and getting a little bit more systems, little more special teams today. That’s good for us because we get to look through bodies, look through screens and try to really react to just play the game. That is what’s fun about goaltending. Sometimes it gets a little much where you got guys coming down and just shooting on you. Now we’re getting into game situations where it’s a little more fun for us.”
There are a few reasons why Elliott starting tomorrow makes sense. One is to get him into game action, and two to allow Carter Hart, who is the Flyers number one netminder to go up a tough Tampa Bay Lightning team with the possibility of clinching the first overall seed. It all makes sense, and this is a good way to keep both Goaltenders fresh for the final push to the playoffs.
Oskar Lindblom:
“Every time we saw Oskar, I think everybody’s spirits were that much more upbeat,” Vigneault said, “If we get to September, we’ll take those decisions from there. I asked the doctor’s if he could play in the playoffs originally, and they said no. I was told he could possibly play in training camp in September, so it’s only a month away.”
It appears that Lindblom may possibly return to play in September at the earliest. Either way Lindblom will return and join his teammates in Toronto this weekend, so the Flyers and Lindblom will take it from there, “The beautiful smile he has (Oskar),” Vigneault said, “Oskar would be a huge boost to our club. I do expect him in the near future.”
