It´s true that generally we don´t fly that much, which is an advantage. It is more difficult for the Western Conference teams in this respect but everything has its pros and cons. They, on the other hand, don´t practise as much as we do. Moreover, one can get used to anything, everyone can find his own rhytm in time. I´ve never played in the Western Conference, though, so I can only guess how demanding it is. Yet the truth is that one of the reasons I chose Philadelphia was the fact that there is less travelling in comparison with other teams.
Now I´m back again on the first line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell; before that I was playing on the second line with Danny Briere and Matt Read. However, I don´t care much about who I play with, it´s the coach´s decision. The team is what matters the most. We have not experienced a winning series lately, rather to the contrary. Sure, we still have the points from the start of the season to our advantage, but even so, we can´t afford many more lost games. Every single point is really important now.
There´s been a lot of talk about our goaltenders, about the fact that we receive too many goals. We´ll see what it´s going to look like before the play-off where, I believe, we will be. Who knows, maybe it will get better in time… Our offense has been very strong since the start of the season, moreover, we are able to get back in the game when we are losing. Just like the last time in Calgary, they were three goals ahead and we still managed to turn the game. We feel that even if we are losing 0:3, there is still a chance to win.
People are talking a lot about Ilya Bryzgalov here. But he is new with the Flyers, just like myself, and everyone needs some time to get used to a new team. For all I know, it must be even tougher for the goalies. For them it´s a lot about the head. If a goaltender makes a mistake, everyone can see it, everyone talks about it. If another player does, someone else can still put it right.
We also played Edmonton last week where they have re-signed Ales Hemsky for two years, though people said they might let him go. Yet the contract they offered him, $10M for two seasons, is really good considering his performance in this season.
That´s why he decided to accept it, not wanting to be a free agent, which is extremely risky in the NHL nowadays. Most teams have already decided how to spend their money plus he has only scored five goals in the season, which is not many. Sure, the Oilers gave him the money for his long-term contribution, but in a new team they usually judge you by your performance in the last season. And I don´t think any other team would pay him five million a year now. As it is, he´s got a great contract now and he´s got a chance to prove to be a much better player than his last season might suggest.
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