Brian Elliott has stepped up in time of need time and time again. Elliott has been phenomenal this year, just phenomenal. Case and point was coming in cold from the bench in a 5-4 shootout victory against the Buffalo Sabres. He came in after the first period for Carter Hart, and played the rest of the game to earn the Flyers a much needed victory, “No. I didn’t play well,” Carter Hart said following the Flyers victory. “The boys needed a spark. Moose came in and did a great job.”
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned this past Thursday night while the Flyers succumbed to a 5-3 loss. However, when healthy Elliott is a solid, good goalie, maybe not start 40-50 games a season, but a darn good backup. The problems that he has had in the past with being unhealthy seem to be a thing of the past, so much so that the entire team speaks very highly of him. Flyers Captain Claude Giroux has said time and time again The Moose is reliable, and Joel Farabee takes it a bit farther, “Moose came in, had a great game, really helped us out and was a big part of that win,” Farabee said following the Flyers 5-4 victory against the Sabres, “We have 2 great goalies and hopefully we can keep building off the momentum.
“The Moose” has put up solid numbers this season compiling a 7-3 record, 2.45 GAA, with a .911 Save Percentage. It really shows he is not only doing his job as a backup netminder, but he is putting together a complete season. Elliott is carrying the heavy lifting right now with Carter Hart trying to find his game with limited practice time due to the condensed schedule. The Moose cannot play in five or six games straight anymore, but he will be relied upon when his number is called, and he has proven that this season and last for that matter to include tonight as Head Coach Alain Vigneault said he will start tonight over Carter Hart.
Oskar Lindblom was joyful at the Flyers press conference today following morning skate, “Unreal,” Lindblom said following practice on the fans supporting him last Tuesday. “The fan base supporting me is amazing. I can’t wait to have a full house.”
Whatever the case may be for Lindblom and Elliott. Tonight’s game is as close to a must win as you can get this early in the season.
