Russian translator gives us a look inside Bryzgalov

Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is known as much for his fanciful pronouncements about how our "solar system is so humongous big" as he is for his prowess on the ice. But what if Bryzgalov isn't the wackjob we all think he is? What if he's just . . . Russian?

We spoke with Olia Prokopenko, a Russian instructor at both Temple University and Bryn Mawr College, to help us judge one way or the other, based on some of Bryzgalov's wackjob-leaning pronouncements.

Prokopenko is not a hockey fan but graciously read up on Bryzgalov in the Russian press to prep for our interview. "I have the impression after reading those interviews that he's a very interesting person," Prokopenko said.

Baffling Bryzism: The "so humongous big" solar system.

The call from our cross-cultural ref: Misunderstood.

"Russian schools and Russian literature prepare people to think about the universe and questions of life and death and put their life in a larger context," Prokopenko says.

"But, of course, there are people who reject that and people who absorb it. I think he's this kind of person and not a showman but a person who knows his priorities.

"I do think when [Russian] children grow up, when they go to school, they are encouraged to discuss questions that are more philosophical than practical," she says. "But then again, he must have a taste for it, too."

Baffling Bryzism: "Trying to find peace in my soul to play in this city."

Our ref's call: Misunderstood.

Does emotional candor feel icky to you? Unstable? Unmanly? At the least, unFlyerlike? It doesn't to Russians, who "think of themselves as open, honest and straightforward, and don't always think about themselves and fame," Prokopenko says.

"Sometimes there is a stereotype of Russian people as candid and blunt. I don't know if he's blunt in his interviews, but he's not trying to portray himself as what he's not. I think that's Russian, but if I say that I'm also reinforcing stereotypes."

Baffling Bryzism: "I have great news and even better news. Great news: I'm not playing tomorrow night. Good news: We have a chance to win the game."

Our ref's call: Stealth humor flying under our radar.

"I think Russian humor is closer in its dryness to British than to American," Prokopenko says.

Take, for instance, Ricky Gervais, who bombed [at the Golden Globes]: "He would be accepted in Russia.

"From my observation, my impression is Americans are afraid to offend," she says. "I'm not saying that they don't have that kind of humor but they suppress it. Whereas, I think Russians think their counterpart will be on the same wavelength as them and will understand what they mean."[]

Baffling Bryzism: "The [shutout] record is not for me. It's a team accomplishment."

Our ref's call: Not so shocking, really.

What's "teamwork," when you think of it, but another word for "collectivist ideals?"

Prokopenko says Philly's Russian-language press has been covering a school for young goalies that Bryzgalov recently opened in his hometown of Togliatti. "That tells you a lot about his personality," she says. "My impression is that he likes children and to me that shows kindness and selflessness . . . It's also true that in Russian culture, giving away, helping others is very important.

"Individualism, up to certain times, was considered to be a negative trait. But collectivism - helping other people, helping your neighbor - that was something that was ingrained in Russian minds and hearts since childhood," she says.

"I think recently political changes probably brought changes in values as well. But Bryzgalov grew up in the Soviet Union. He probably went to a Soviet school where collectivism was all instilled in young minds.

"I wouldn't be surprised if part of it came from culture and probably part of it was from his family."