Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
It appears the Goaltending issues that have haunted this organization for the past 30-35 years are a thing of the past. Flyers’ Goaltending Coach Kim Dillabaugh has done a tremendous job with this crop of young Goaltenders that are keeping this team afloat with the Sam Ersson injuries. Both Aleksei Kolosov and Ivan Fedotov are playing well, and amy other team in the NHL might suffer after their number one netminder has missed weeks and weeks with a lower body injury (Groin), but not Philadelphia this season. Instead they see themselves in a playoff spot at the moment, “He gets a ton of credit for being a Goaltending coach in Philadelphia. He has to put up with s*** from me. I think he does a terrific job,” Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said yesterday following a huge victory against the New York Rangers.
A towering Goaltender in Ivan Fedotov stands at 6’7 and weighs 214.5 pounds, per the Flyers PR. He was found by former Flyers’ General Manager Ron Hextall in the 7th round of the 2015 NHL Draft. Since being drafted by the Flyers; the now 27-year-old Fedotov made his way up the ranks in Russia. He was playing in the KHL (Kontinental Hockey League), which is not only Russia’s top league, but it’s arguably the second toughest league in the World. Fedotov spent time with CSKA Moscow in his final season to date in the KHL where he posted a 14-10-2 record, a 2.00 GAA (Goals Against Average), with a .919 SV% (Save Percentage). Moreover, Fedotov was also credited with two shutouts. Simply put, he kicked butt, and deserved an NHL contract.
He finally made his NHL Debut and it was a success, while backstopping 19 saves on 21 shots faced. Fedotov really showed promise, and was one of a few players that played their butts off in a losing effort on Monday night, “I don’t care if I’m playing for the first minute or whole game. Just want to help the team,” Fedotov said following his NHL Debut.
“He’s the only god damn player who played in the second period.” – John Tortorella
Fedotov made quite the name for himself in his native country, thus he earned an Entry-Level-Contract (ELC) for his efforts. After playing a handful of games for the orange and black this season it became apparent he needed time to adjust to North America. He was slow moving post to post, but his main troubles were tracking the puck, as he would allow long range missiles to enter the net. Somehow Fedotov would the tough saves look easy, but would allow softies from long range. It became frustrating even for him, but these past six or seven games for him have been entirely different. It appears he’s more confident, “Doesn’t matter how many shots you have (face), you have to give team chance, not lose confidence,” Fedotov said yesterday following a key victory against the New York Rangers.
Fedotov has relished the past six or seven games, while becoming very good friends with Matvei Michkov and Egor Zamula. He is playing really well, and he backstopped 23 shots on 24 shots faced against the Rangers. Fedotov managed to finish the game with a .958 Save Percentage, “I more concentrate on my game. You have to keep your mindset medium, not up and down. Step by step, I’m getting better. If you play more, you feel better,” Fedotov said.
Aleksei Kolosov has been just as good, at times even better than Fedotov. Kolosov got off to a great start in his NHL Debut, as he became the first Belarusian Goaltender to play in an NHL game. He made nine saves out of 10 shots faced through the first period, and it became clear the Flyers organization wanted him to start, start, start before he made a decision to head back to the KHL.
Kolosov played well in his NHL Debut, and he offered a bit of hope at that position. Actually, a tandem of Samuel Ersson, I am Fedotov, and Kolosov wasn’t a bad one. Even so much so, Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said that Kolosov has surpassed Ivan Fedotov on the depth chart at one point earlier in the season, and he was backing up Samuel Ersson until Ersson sustained another lower body injury (Groin).
The one thing that stands out about Kolosov is his athleticism. He quickly moves post to post well, but he needs to track the puck a bit better. His athleticism let’s him get away with that particular downfall to his game for the most part.
Flyers’ Goaltending Coach Kim Dillabaugh has been great with the Goaltenders this season, as they are you g and can barely speak the language, for Lord’s sake, “He gets a ton of credit for being a Goaltending coach in Philadelphia. He has to put up with s*** from me. I think he does a terrific job,” Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella said yesterday.
For his efforts, Kolosov has been really good as of late, like Fedotov. Kolosov has earned. a .919 Save Percentage, with a 2.00 GAA, and is 3-0 in his last three starts (Including Saturday’s victory against the St. Louis Blues). He’s tracking the puck well, and his stick handling abilities have gotten better. What I love about Kolosov is his astounding rebound control.
Thr good thing is both Goaltenders have given Ersson the rest and time off he needs to fully heal. Ersson doesn’t have to rush back from injury, with the way both Kolosov and Fedotov are playing–he can continue to get the rest he needs to make a full recovery. The Flyers are 8-2-2 in their last 12 games played. Hopefully, the run continues against the Florida Panthers on Thursday.
Matvei Michkov Character
Well before NHL Draft commenced of some pundits wrote that Matvei Michkov had some character issues with his team at the time SKA in the KHL. Even so much so, some of his teammates had to come to his defense via interviews, to debunk those rumors. It turns out that’s exactly what they were, rumors.
Michkov was given the belt this past Saturday by his teammates, for player of the game. In turn, Michkov gave the belt to his teammate Aleksei Kolosov, as he said he played better.
Talk about being unselfish, talk about his character. What a terrible character right?!!!!
“Good game, but Koly is the best player,” Michkov says in the video. It’s a very unselfish locker room, and it’s on display.
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