The Philadelphia Flyers's starting goaltender for the 2012 Winter Classic has been decided, but it it wasn't head coach Peter Laviolette who made the announcement Saturday instead it was goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.
"Great news, I’m not playing tomorrow night," Bryzgalov said Sasturday. "Good news, we have a chance to win the game."
Despite Laviolette not telling either goaltender who would be facing the New York Rangers Monday in the NHL's annual outdoor game, which will be played at Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA (1 p.m. on NBC), Bryzgalov told reporters that backup Sergei Bobrovsky would get the start. The assumption by Bryzgalov was made because Laviolette has been using a day-to-day evaluation on players, who have been rewarded with good play by more minutes.
In the his last three starts, Bobrowsky has played well and won all three, while Bryzgalov has been inconsistent in three of his last four starts.
For more on the NHL Winter Classic and the Alumni Game check out our full storystream and Broad Street Hockey.