PHILADELPHIA -- Flyers coach Peter Laviolette has opted to start Ilya Bryzgalov for a League-high 25th time Sunday when his team faces the Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2).
Bryzgalov gave up three goals in a 2:18 span midway through the first period Saturday in a 3-0 loss at Boston, and he has allowed 11 goals on 64 shots in his previous three games, a save percentage of just .828. His 1,349:58 of ice time is three seconds less than Nashville's Pekka Rinne for the League lead; he's faced the third-most shots (621) and made the fourth-most saves (558).
Even with a three-day break coming up, as well as the recall of goalie Michael Leighton from Adirondack of the American Hockey League, Laviolette said he believes Bryzgalov is the best option to help the Flyers snap their three-game losing streak.
"I think you go through everything, you roll though all your options of personnel that's available to you," Laviolette said. "I think just coming off [Saturday], Bryz is a guy that needs to be in there and we need to get a win. Our group needs to dig out of this. Not to put him in there and give him that opportunity doesn't seem right."
Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK
