Ivan Fedotov will start in goal for the Flyers against the New York Islanders, a testament to his perseverance after a challenging start to the season. Coach John Tortorella acknowledges Fedotov's unorthodox style but credits him for stopping the puck and earning his position. Fedotov's journey from the third string to the backup role highlights his dedication and ability to overcome adversity.
Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov will make his 14th start of the season against the New York Islanders on Friday night. It's been more than two weeks since the Russian netminder supplanted Aleksei Kolosov for the No. 2 spot behind Carter Hart. Coach John Tortorella said Fedotov's performance has earned him the position. 'He wouldn't be moved to two, if I was uncomfortable with him,' Tortorella said.
However, the coach isn't entirely enamored with Fedotov's unorthodox style, which includes a unique two-pad stack. 'You mean that two-pad stack?' Tortorella chuckled when asked about it. 'That two-pad stack because our defenseman jammed him up in the crease if you saw that. But that was a of a two-pad stack,' he added. 'Haven't seen it in quite a while. 'It's still very unorthodox,' he continued. 'But he has stopped the puck, and that's why he's No. 2. And it’s a pretty good story, quite honestly. I hope it continues to play out the proper way. … It gets a little weird sometimes because it is a little unorthodox because you’re so used to how the goalies play nowadays.'Across his 13 starts this season, Fedotov is 4-5-3 with a 3.26 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage. In his last three starts, the Flyers got a point twice. 'I feel good, yeah,' Fedotov recently told The Inquirer. 'I played a couple games, great feeling. Something from nothing so it’s really, really good. I feel part of the team.' Up until the end of December, Fedotov wasn't getting much practice time as the No. 3 netminder. Tortorella told goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh to focus on Ersson and Kolosov. Now, he's getting reps and the work. How he has stayed focused through the tough start, the healthy scratches and the intermittent starts — Friday night's game against the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m., NBCSP+) is his first start since a Jan. 14 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets — has impressed Tortorella. 'You have to just digest it because it just looks weird sometimes, but the damn guy's stopped the puck, right?' Tortorella said. 'He got kicked to the curb at No. 3. Shut his mouth. 'I remember I had one conversation with him, I said, 'I don’t know where it goes?‘ He spent I don’t know how many weeks just skating up and down the boards hoping to get in the net if one of the other goalies needed a spell during the practice. Totally frustrated, all the stuff he had to do to get here, kicked to the curb, and he ate it, and continued to work at his game.
Ivan Fedotov Philadelphia Flyers New York Islanders NHL John Tortorella Goalie Comeback Resilience Unorthodox Style
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