Michael Leighton played 35 minutes in Chicago Saturday night. He went 15 of 20. Coming in with a league leading 1.45 GAA, this is not Leighton. His angles were a little off and he never got settled in. However hardly any of the goals were his fault.
Goal 1, Brouwer: Top of the slot one timer set up by board play low to high, Parent lost his stick and Jvr never broke up the play.
But as you can see, 4 guys in the slot and 1 guy on the boards for the Flyers. This is a lose puck side attack. The Flyers played this all Game 1. Chicago is too quick and pass to sharply to not play a variation of man on man.Sharp's goal came off of a turnover during a Flyers line change. Bolland's came off of a breakaway shorthanded, the only goal i credit to Leighton. Beat him 5-hole.
Goal 4, Versteeg: A play behind the net that saw 4 Flyers around the crease all poking at the puck. Versteeg put in his own rebound. Flyers defense can not let him stand there for the second chance, especially with 4 guys down low.
Goal 5, Brouwer 2nd: Once again 4 Flyers below the dots, in the slot, however the puck gets through. Just like Brouwer's 1st goal Flyers seemed to be playing a zone and Brouwer sneaked in the slot.
Goal 6, Kopecky GWG: The play was saved by the Hawks at the blueline and Versteeg was down low to accept the dump in. But see the circled player, that's Kimmo Timonen. Kopecky is his man and he's caught out of position. Bouch did play Kopecky badly but Carter was the man defending him.
However i believe Leighton will be back for Game 2, and so will the Flyers tight,"one and done", defense. He's your number 1 and he's been your best player until now. Just a kink in the armor, just one bad game.
Leighton said after the game: "Just one of those games, almost like every shot they scored. Good players, they get paid a lot to score goals."
I don't believe Leighton took this as anything more than a bad game. He will be back for Game 2, Monday in Chcago at 800pm est. on NBC.
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