Flyers Notes: Flyers' Bobrovsky makes 12th straight start

With the Flyers' points streak over, Brian Boucher - who had not played since Oct. 25 - figured to be the starting goalie against shorthanded Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Coach Peter Laviolette, however, decided that rookie Sergei Bobrovsky did not need a rest. Bobrovsky made his 12th straight start, the same number as Ron Hextall during his rookie season in 1986-87. It was "Bob's" 16th start in 20 games, putting him on pace to play 66 of the 82 regular-season games.

"We're coming off a day off, and want to get back on the winning track," Laviolette said before the game when asked if it was a difficult decision to start Bobrovsky. "No decisions are easy, but right now his numbers are some of the best in the league."

Bobrovsky, 22, entered the night among the NHL leaders in wins (11, tied for second), save percentage (.932, fifth), and goals-against average (2.07, sixth).

He did not last long against the Lightning, however. After Bobrovsky was shelled for four first-period goals, Boucher replaced him to start the second period. He promptly allowed a goal that tied the score at 5, and then let in three more.

After Thursday, the Flyers' next two games are against elite Eastern Conference teams Washington and Montreal. Bobrovsky figures to start those games, too.

That would make it 14 straight starts. In the Flyers' history, only three other rookie goalies have made more consecutive starts: Tommy Soderstrom and Antero Niittymaki each had 18, and Pelle Lindbergh had 16.

Bobrovsky never played more than 35 games in any of his pro seasons in Russia.

Laviolette smiled when asked how he monitored whether Bobrovsky was getting tired.

"I haven't mentioned fatigue once. [Sportswriters] keep reporting that," he said. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. He's a young kid. . . . Physically, he's fit. He's strong. I haven't seen any signs of him slowing down."

Asked after the Flyers' 8-7 loss if he would like a day off, a smiling Bobrovsky replied through a translator: "This is a very risky question, and I'm not going to answer."

By the way, Bernie Parent played in 73 games in 1973-74, a season that ended when he was 29. He then played in 68 games in 1974-75.

The Flyers won the Stanley Cup in both of those seasons.

Tampa Bay, which was missing injured forwards Simon Gagne and Vinny Lecavalier, was also without forward Mattias Ritola, who was suspended for two games for hitting the Islanders' Matt Moulson from behind on Wednesday.

- Sam Carchidi