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Holmgren: Don’t blame Bryzgalov for goals allowed Tuesday

Boston Bruins v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 17: Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on after being pulled from the game after giving up five goals against the Boston Bruins during their game on December 17, 2011 at The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Ilya Bryzgalov’s attempt on Tuesday to play through the chip fracture in his foot didn’t go well for the Philadelphia Flyers. They lost 5-3 to the Rangers and Bryzgalov ended up stopping just 19 of 24 shots. However, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren wasn’t about to blame his goaltender for that loss.

“You couldn’t fault him for any of the goals. I’m not concerned at all,” Holmgren said. “It’s good he got a game behind him and now he can move forward.”

Wayne Simmonds echoed Holmgren’s comments by saying, “We didn’t help him too much.”

Bryzgalov will probably play between the pipes on Thursday against the desperate Sabres. Buffalo is tied with Washington for eighth place with just two games left, but the Capitals control the tiebreaker. That means that if Buffalo loses in regulation and Washington wins, then the Sabres will be eliminated.

With that in mind, the Sabres might be an even tougher challenge for Philadelphia than the first place Rangers were on Tuesday.