Weekes: No need for Laviolette to hide his starter

Sunday, 01.01.2012 / 4:13 PM / 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Rangers v. Flyers

By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

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PHILADELPHIA -- After Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov said he will not be starting in Monday's 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes wanted to hear Flyers coach Peter Laviolette confirm exactly that during his press conference that took place about 30 minutes after Bryzgalov's announcement inside the Flyers' dressing room.

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Winter Classic start time moved to 3pm

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Instead, Laviolette said he had not yet spoken to his goalies and a decision would not be announced until before the game. He called it "sticking with company policy that we've had since I've been here."

Weekes can't figure out why that policy even exists.

"One thing I don't like is I don't like the head games," Weekes told NHL.com. "I'm not suggesting Peter Laviolette is doing it, but a lot of times coaches will say, 'We're not sure who the starting goalie is.' Listen, there are only two goalies per roster, OK? The scouts know, the video coaches of the opposing team know and the players that are serious, they watch tape and they know who is who. They know in this case it's either going to be Russian goalie A or Russian goalie B. There is no real need to hide it."

Weekes added that he doesn't recall this policy existing until recently.

"A lot of times we see that in the NHL, coaches are like, 'I'm not telling you who my starter is,'" Weekes said. "What do you mean you're not telling the people who your starter is? Squash all silliness and just come out and say it. Teams, yes, they game plan, but you can only game plan for one of two goalies. In football, are the Eagles starting Michael Vick or are they not? If they are, this is what we're doing. If they're not, then this is what we're doing. It's quite simple."

Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl

Weekes: No need for Laviolette to hide his starter

By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer

2012 WINTER CLASSIC

Winter Classic start time moved to 3pm

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