Ilya Bryzgalov Opts For Media Silence

Ilya Bryzgalov silenced some of his critics Saturday night, stopping 24 of 25 shots in a 5-1 win against Carolina. Now, he's silencing himself.

Through the team's public relations staff, the Philadelphia Flyers goalie requested that he no longer talk to the media on game day or the day before a game. He will still talk to the media after games.

The decision comes shortly after Flyers goalie coach Jeff Reese said Bryzgalov might be struggling to adapt to playing in a big media market.

Bryzgalov went through a tough stretch in October, bottoming out when he allowed four goals in ten shots against Winnipeg. After that game, he commented on his dwindling self-esteem.

"I have zero confidence in myself right now. If you throw a ball instead of a puck, I'm not going to stop it. I'm terrible and I want to apologize in front of the fans, in front of my teammates; and I don't know what's going on. I have no answer for you guys. I thought this last game in Montreal was ... nothing's gonna happen worse, but today was even worse."

"We didn't have problems playing the puck on the ice. Not yesterday, not tonight. I just can't stop the puck. It's very simple. You can't ask more from the forwards. They scored eight goals and we're still losing. Obviously it's [a] terrible goalie - it's me."

"They try to play hard, but the bottom line I'm the goalie. I'm the guy who have to try to stop the puck. I couldn't even stop the simple shots."

"I'm lost in the woods right now."

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