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.”
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 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 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,” Elliott said at camp, “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.”
Elliott has proven he is more than capable of making a spot start, as he defeated the Washington Capitals twice this past season (2.00 GAA and a .926 Save Percentage). He beat the Capitals back in early March after not seeing rubber for over a week 5-2, and that win put the Flyers behind the Capitals by one point in the Metropolitan Division.
What Elliott does well is make spot starts and that cannot be taken for granted. He has played in one game in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals in the Round Robin Tournament, and he finished the game with strong numbers in a 3-1 victory. Elliott finished the game with a 1.00 GAA, and a .941 Save Percentage. He is a proven Veteran that has playoff experience, and should be trusted in this moment to make this spot start to solely give Goaltending phenom Carter Hart a rest. Hart has played in 10 out of 11 games in the playoffs thus far, to include one back to back. The Flyers are currently in the midst of playing four games in a little over five days, that is a ton of games. If Elliott loses the Flyers are down 2-1 with a chance at evening the series, if he wins the Flyers are up 2-1 with a rested Hart for Game 4.
At the end of the day I trust Head Coach Alain Vigneault. Vigneault knows these two Goaltenders very well, and he will also consult Goaltending Coach Kim Dillabaugh with this decision. At the end of the day, Vigneault shall be trusted with this tough decision.
Great insight